New SADC chair to be appointed at summit

SA President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to undertake a working visit to Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) tomorrow to participate in the 42nd Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government. The Citizen reports that regional leaders will deliberate on the region’s development under the theme ‘Promoting industrialisation through, agro-processing, mineral beneficiation, and regional value chains for inclusive and resilient economic growth.’ The theme underscores efforts to strengthen implementation of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030. The SADC Summit will take place on 17 and 18 August at Palais du Peuple (Parliament Building). Given the frequency of natural disasters in the region, the Summit is expected to adopt a Memorandum of Agreement on the establishment and operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre to be hosted in Mozambique. The Summit will also deliberate on a proposed amendment to a protocol on the development of tourism in the region, as well as an amendment to the Treaty of the Southern African Development Community that entails recognition of the SADC Parliament as a SADC Institution. Ramaphosa, in his capacity as the outgoing Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation and Facilitator of the Lesotho Peace Process, will lead discussions of the SADC Organ Troika Summit, which is responsible for promoting peace and security in the region. President Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo of the DRC will take over the chairpersonship of SADC from President Lazarus Chakwera of the Republic of Malawi.

Full report in The Witness