Harare, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Ambassador Dr. Frederick Shava, has officially assumed the chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers. This transition, which took place on August 13, 2024, in Harare, sees Dr. Shava taking over from Angola’s Minister of External Relations, Ambassador Téte António, ahead of the 44th SADC Summit.
The SADC Council of Ministers, made up of officials from each member state’s ministries of foreign affairs, economic planning, or finance, plays a key role in overseeing the development and implementation of SADC policies. Dr. Shava’s new role comes as Zimbabwe prepares to host the SADC Chairmanship under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who will assume the position from Angolan President João Lourenço at the summit on August 17, 2024.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Shava pledged to guide the Council of Ministers in line with the summit’s theme, “Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development towards an Industrialised SADC.” He emphasized the necessity for innovation and regional collaboration to drive economic growth and sustainable development.
Outgoing Chair Ambassador António reflected on the progress made during his tenure, particularly in regional cooperation and integration. He highlighted the previous summit’s theme, “Human and Financial Capital: The Key Drivers for Sustainable Industrialisation in the SADC Region,” stressing the need for a skilled workforce to boost innovation and productivity across the region.
Ambassador António also called for the swift operationalization of the SADC University of Transformation to enhance access to education and address the region’s labor market needs. Additionally, he urged the quick implementation of the SADC Regional Development Fund.
On humanitarian matters, António praised the launch of a $5.5 billion Regional Humanitarian Appeal to support countries affected by El Niño-induced droughts and floods, initiated by SADC Chair João Lourenço in May 2024.
SADC Executive Secretary Elias M. Magosi commended Zimbabwe for its leadership in advancing the region’s industrialization agenda, particularly since the country hosted the 34th SADC Summit in 2014. He also lauded Zimbabwe’s successful hosting of the 7th SADC Industrialisation Week in August 2024, which attracted over 3,500 participants globally.
