SADC Mourns Leaders, Focuses on Peace, Development Priorities
"The passing of Dr. Geingob is a great loss to our collective pursuit of regional integration and development," Elias M. Magosi told the SADC Council of Ministers meeting in his opening remarks.
LUANDA, Angola— The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is mourning the recent loss of leaders Hage Geingob of Namibia and Ali Hassan Mwinyi of Tanzania, while focusing on pressing issues of peace, security, development and regional integration, the SADC Executive Secretary said Sunday, writes Winston Mwale.
"The passing of Dr. Geingob is a great loss to our collective pursuit of regional integration and development," Elias M. Magosi told the SADC Council of Ministers meeting in his opening remarks.
"His ability to navigate the often very difficult terrain of peace, security and governance matters was a marvel to watch."
Magosi also paid tribute to Mwinyi, who led the transformation of the precursor Southern African Development Coordinating Conference (SADCC) into SADC in the early 1990s.
"We will forever be grateful for their selfless service and immense contribution to our community and the world at large," he said.
The region is grappling with security threats in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and northern Mozambique, where SADC has deployed missions.
Magosi said the troops "exemplify the highest ideals of service and sacrifice" to restore peace.
On the economic front, he said the SADC Secretariat has mobilized $185 million from international partners in the last financial year for regional integration projects, but much more is needed.
"The estimated resources needed to implement the prioritised projects identified in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020-2030), is way over $50 billion," Magosi stated.
He urged member states to fast-track signing and ratifying pending SADC legal instruments "to enable the region to quickly attract the much-needed development resources from our partners."
Other priorities include establishing a SADC Regional Development Fund, addressing youth needs through a regional program, and operationalizing the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre in the wake of major disasters like Cyclone Freddy.
Magosi concluded by recognizing the SADC Secretariat's work in preparing for the ministers' meeting under the theme "Human and Financial Capital: The Key Drivers for Sustainable Industrialisation in the SADC Region."