Windhoek: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has reaffirmed its commitment to regional peace, political stability, and economic integration, while calling for stronger cooperation to address security, agricultural, and social challenges facing member states. These resolutions were contained in the communiqu© of the 46th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government held in Durban on Monday.
According to Namibia Press Agency, on peace and security, the summit expressed solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and supported regional and international efforts to restore peace, protect civilians, and enhance humanitarian and public health responses. It also welcomed constructive engagement in Madagascar, supporting reforms aimed at promoting inclusive governance, democratic institutions, accountability, human rights, and citizen participation. Additionally, the SADC leadership commended Mozambique for its national dialogue and efforts to combat terrorism in Cabo Delgado.
On the economic front, the summit urged member states to deepen regional integration, trade, and investment, mobilize domestic resources, and strengthen collective resilience. Industrialization, regional value chains, agro-processing, critical minerals, economic corridors, and infrastructure were identified as key priorities under the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030. Furthermore, the summit approved the SADC Tourism UNIVISA agreement, viewing it as an important instrument for facilitating travel, increasing tourism, and supporting regional economic development.
Concerning agriculture, member states were urged to remove non-tariff barriers, harmonize standards, and improve cross-border logistics to facilitate the movement of food from surplus to deficit areas, helping stabilize food supplies and prices. The summit also called for greater preparedness for anticipated El Ni±o-induced climate shocks through early warning systems, drought preparedness, and climate-smart agriculture, including irrigation and drought-tolerant crop varieties.
On social issues, SADC urged governments to promote women in leadership roles and strengthen measures to prevent gender-based violence. It also called for greater investment in youth programs focused on skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation, employment, and leadership opportunities. The annual meeting was chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who also assumed the SADC chairperson position.
Eight heads of state from Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Seychelles, and Zimbabwe attended the summit, while the remaining SADC member states were represented by vice-presidents, prime ministers, defense and foreign affairs ministers, or other designated representatives. The 47th SADC Summit will be held in Zambia.