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President Emmerson Mnangagwa has assumed the chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), promising a raft of measures to ensure sustainable development in the regional economic community.
In his keynote address, the president of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community, His Excellency, Dr E. D. Mnangagwa at the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit in Harare today, said this year’s theme, “Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustainable Economic Growth and Development towards an Industrialised SADC”, brings to the fore the role of innovation in sustained economic transformation and development.
“It is a clarion call for our respective countries to leverage the region’s human capital, to spur technology and innovation that will leap-frog the mordernisation and industrialisation of SADC towards a higher quality of life for our citizens.
“To this end, it has become critically important and urgent to harness the potential of innovation to produce goods and services through value addition and beneficiation of our rich mineral and related natural resources. The peoples of the region fought for our liberation, freedom, and independence as well as the economic value of our land and that which is under it. The time is now, we must realise maximum value from our God-given rich natural endowments,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of deploying innovative strategies, across all sectors of the SADC economies to accelerate the realisation of the region’s collective development.
The Southern African region continues to experience climate change-induced natural disasters which have had far-reaching negative impacts on human and food security.
In light of the lessons learned, President Mnangagwa said investments in transformative agriculture and food systems must be scaled up. Through robust climate mitigation strategies and resilience-building mechanisms, SADC must continually strive to be a region capable of feeding itself.
The President said the full operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Centre must be given due attention.
In accelerating the modernisation and industrialisation of SADC countries, the broadening and expansion of the energy infrastructure with particular emphasis on renewables are critically important. Developing countries contribute the least to global carbon emissions and yet they are the most affected.
President Mnangagwa reiterated the need to accelerate the implementation of regional projects and programmes. These include those related to cross-border energy projects, transport infrastructure development, as well as climate-proofing agriculture and growing manufacturing, tourism, and SMEs, among other critical sectors.
He called for the end of the conflict in Palestine and appealed for the respect of UN Resolutions on the Two State solution. Similarly, he said the independence of the peoples of Western Saharawi is long overdue.
“Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy of none”. We firmly believe in dialogue and diplomacy as the sustainable route for the resolution of conflict and disputes.
“We, thus, stand ready to play our part in consolidating the peace, unity, security, and stability of our SADC region and “Silencing the Guns” on our African Continent,” he added.
The 44th Ordinary SADC Summit was graced by key dignitaries in the region.
In attendance were Zimbabwe’s First Lady, Amai Dr. A. Mnangagwa; His Majesty, King Mswati III, of the Kingdom of Eswatini; His Excellency, João Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola and Outgoing Chairperson of SADC; Her Excellency, Samia Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation; His Excellency, Chairperson of the SADC Panel of Elders, Former President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania; Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Hon. Gen. (Rtd) Dr. C. G. D. N. Chiwenga; Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Hon. Col. (Rtd) K. C. D. Mohadi; and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, Ambassador F. M. Shava, to name a few.
