By Staff Reporter
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa bade SADC a prosperous future which takes advantage of the foundations laid by the crop of founding leaders.
The Zimbabwean leader took charge of the rotational regional helm on August 17 2024 and handed it over to the Madagascar President, Andry Rajoelina.
Presenting his handover statement in Antananarivo Sunday, Mnangagwa reiterated that the future well-being, development and a higher quality of life of all peoples, particularly those in Africa and the global south, depends on a just, inclusive and rules-based multilateral system.
He said for the good of both present and future generations, the current crop of leaders, have a duty to defend and continuously improve the international order bequeathed to us by our predecessors.
Held under the theme, “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC”, the regional summit was attended by other Heads of State and Government, including South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Botswana’s Duma Boko, Mozambique’s Daniel Chapo, Namibia’s Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
President Mnangagwa said during his tenure, the regional bloc had collectively realised successes in developing institutions that underpin democracy and good governance.
As SADC Chair, the President was officially handed over the SADC Secretariat Headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana on behalf of the region, following its full acquisition.
Also in his capacity as Chairman of SADC, the President, accompanied by his Botswana counterpart, Boko, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the 19-hectare SADC Standby Force Regional Logistics Depot, which will play an important role in enhancing the region’s preparedness and response to conflict and humanitarian emergencies.
“Collectively, we realised successes in developing institutions that underpin democracy and good governance.Together with His Excellency, Advocate Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana, we commissioned the construction of our Regional Logistics Depot in Botswana.
“Member states are urged to equally provide the requisite funding to ensure the timely completion of this critical infrastructure,” he said.
SADC, said the outgoing Chairperson, remained steadfast in its commitment to ensuring peace in the Eastern parts of the DRC, hence the appointment of a panel of mediators earlier in this month.
Outgoing Sadc Chairperson President Mnangagwa hands over the regional bloc’s flag to his successor, Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina in Madagascar.
The panel comprises former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza, former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, and former Botswana President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.
“We appointed five Former Heads of State to facilitate inclusive dialogue, build trust and peacebuilding initiatives.
“We welcome the outcome of the Joint SADC-EAC Summit held earlier this week and the African-led Peace Process, which reinforces our philosophy of African solutions to African problems,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the Peace Agreements brokered by the USA and Qatar were also welcome as they would complement the African-led processes underway towards peace, stability and development in Eastern DRC.
“The peace and stability prevailing in our region is worth applauding as reflective of our joint obligation to silencing the guns.
“I commend the outgoing Chairperson of the Organ, Her Excellency, Dr Samia Hassan, and the Organ Troika Member States, for their gallant work over the past year, for the realisation of durable consolidating peace and security in our region,” said the President.
In terms of the region’s integration efforts, he said the development of strategic corridors, one-stop border posts and digital infrastructure must remain top priority.
“The integration we envisage heavily depends on our ability to develop infrastructure, which facilitates the free movement of people, capital, goods and services across our borders.Major milestones have been recorded in implementing high-impact regional infrastructure projects.The full potential of our regional bloc has, regrettably, been largely inhibited by budgetary constraints,” he said.
