Harare, Zimbabwe – Zambia has endorsed Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) candidate for the African Development Bank (AfDB) Presidency. This decision was made during the 44th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, where Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, represented President Hakainde Hichilema. Dr. Maimbo emerged as the top candidate after a competitive selection process and will now be the sole SADC nominee in the AfDB elections set for May 2025.
The summit, held under the theme “Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development Towards an Industrialised SADC,” also saw discussions on key regional issues. Among them was the progress of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030, which aims to boost regional integration and industrialization. Leaders also addressed concerns over food security and the impact of El Niño-related droughts and floods across the region.
In addition to the main summit, there were preceding meetings, including the SADC Council of Ministers on August 13-14, 2024, and the Organ Troika Summit on August 16, 2024. President Hichilema, in his role as Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation, presided over the Troika Summit discussions.
