The 46th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government has adopted infrastructure development, agriculture and critical minerals as key drivers of industrialisation in the region.
The Summit, held in Durban, South Africa on Monday, endorsed the theme: “Resilient, Sustainable, and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World.”
According to the communiqué issued after the Summit, the theme seeks to promote a competitive, climate-resilient, inclusive and prosperous SADC region.
The Summit was chaired by South African President Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa and attended by Heads of State and Government, or their representatives, from SADC Member States, including Lesotho Prime Minister Mr. Samuel Matekane.
The leaders urged Member States to use emerging opportunities to deepen regional integration, strengthen trade and investment, mobilise domestic resources and build collective resilience to support sustainable development.
The Summit also called on Member States to increase regional trade in agricultural products by removing non-tariff barriers, harmonising standards and improving cross-border logistics.
It said these measures would help ensure the efficient movement of food commodities from areas with surplus to those facing shortages, thereby helping to stabilise food supply and prices across the region.
On climate change, Member States were urged to strengthen preparedness for anticipated El Niño-induced climate shocks through early warning systems, drought preparedness and climate-smart agriculture.
The measures include developing irrigation and adopting drought-tolerant crop varieties.
The Summit further received the mid-term review of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030, which identified high-impact priorities including industrialisation, resource mobilisation, regional value chains, agro-processing, critical minerals, just energy transition, economic corridors, one-stop border posts and health financing.
The leaders also approved the Agreement Establishing the SADC Tourism UNIVISA and called on Member States to sign it.
The UNIVISA is expected to facilitate seamless travel across the region, promote tourism and regional integration, and contribute to economic development through increased visitor arrivals and investment.
The Summit urged Member States that have not yet ratified the Agreement on the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund to do so, saying this would help accelerate resource mobilisation and the implementation of regional infrastructure, industrialisation and socio-economic development programmes.
On peace and security, the Summit reaffirmed its solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and support for efforts to restore peace and security, protect civilians and strengthen humanitarian and public health responses.
It also welcomed constructive engagement in Madagascar and reaffirmed its support for reforms aimed at promoting inclusive governance, democratic institutions, accountability, human rights and citizen participation.
The Summit urged stakeholders in Madagascar to maintain the relative calm prevailing in the country and use dialogue to address their grievances.
On health, SADC leaders urged Member States to strengthen disease surveillance and preparedness to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks and pandemics. They also called for continued support to the DRC in responding to the Ebola outbreak.
The Summit also designated the Botswana Vaccine Institute as a regional Foot and Mouth Disease Antigen/Vaccine Bank to strengthen efforts to prevent and control outbreaks.
Meanwhile, the Summit urged Member States to mainstream youth programmes into national and regional development plans and allocate adequate resources to initiatives focusing on skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation, employment creation and leadership opportunities.
President Ramaphosa was elected Chairperson of SADC, while the President of Zambia was elected Incoming Chairperson. King Mswati III of Eswatini was elected Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
The 47th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held in Zambia.
Source: Lesotho News Agency (LENA), 18/8/2026
