13 Aug 2020

 President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi will on Monday participate in a virtual SADC ordinary summit of heads of state and government, the Ministry of International Affairs and Cooperation has announced.

According to a media release issued by the ministry, the summit, to be hosted by Mozambique as the incoming SADC chair, is the organisation’s 40th.

 It will  be  convened  under  the  theme: “SADC: 40  Years  Building  Peace  and Security,  Promoting  Development  and  Resilience  in  the  Face  of  Global Challenges”.

The release says the summit marks 40 years of regional cooperation towards building a community  that  has  a  shared  vision  for  economic  and  social  development,  peace  and security, and democratic governance for enhanced livelihoods of SADC citizens.

During the summit, current SADC chair, President Dr John Magufuli of Tanzania,  will  officially  hand over  the  chairmanship to President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique.

In addition, President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe will hand over the chairmanship of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, Security and Cooperation to President Masisi.

Botswana, which will be serving as chair of the organ for the first time, will be at the helm until August 2021.

The  summit  will  be  preceded  by  a  virtual  organ  troika  summit  of  heads  of  state  and government, as well as a ministerial meeting scheduled for today.

The release says the troika summit will deliberate on the political and security situation in the region and appreciate progress made on strategic issues in defence, state and public security and the consolidation of democracy.

 In  addition  to  the  troika  summit, there  will  be  a  series  of  virtual  senior officials meetings August 10-14 as well as the SADC council of ministers that took place Thursday (August 13).

President Dr Masisi will be accompanied by Dr Unity Dow, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Mr.  Kabo  Morwaeng,  Minister  for Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Kagiso Mmusi, Minister  of  Defence,  Justice  and  Security; Dr  Thapelo Matsheka, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Ms  Anna  Mokgethi,  Minister  of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs and Ms Peggy Serame, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry as well as senior government officials. BOPA