15 May 2016

Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairperson, President Lt Gen. Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama will convene a meeting on food security and poverty eradication in Gaborone today .

 A media release from SADC states that the workshop is meant to exchange ideas on how to address “chronic” problems of poverty, hunger and malnutrition in the region and come up with practical solutions towards addressing such issues.

The forum also provides opportunity to brainstorm, exchange ideas, and agree on practical and strategic actions for both short and long term scenarios in an effort to promote food and nutritional security and address poverty in the region.

The release says tackling persistent regional food insecurity and poverty is key in realising regional integration and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets.

It also says such challenges, if not addressed in a suitable manner, will threaten socio-economic growth and stability of the region. Further, it says the region is highly vulnerable to natural disasters including droughts, floods and cyclones that affect food security.

The workshop will be attended by ministers and senior officials representing SADC member states, private organisations, farmer organisations, United Nation’s agencies and other international partners. ENDS