By George Swarei
Harare, August 8, 2024 – The SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials meeting has commenced at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, marking the beginning of the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government.
Ambassador Nazaré José Salvador, Director of SADC Office in Angola and current Chairperson of Senior Officials, handed over the chairmanship to Ambassador Albert Chimbindi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Zimbabwe.
Ambassador Salvador praised the region’s progress towards increased integration, peace, and security, as well as its response to climate change and natural disasters like the El Nino-induced drought.
Ambassador Chimbindi, in his acceptance speech, expressed Zimbabwe’s commitment to supporting member states in achieving an industrialized SADC, peace and security in the DRC, and regional transformation through policies like the SADC Industrialisation Policy and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
He emphasized the need for effective climate response mechanisms to address crises like El Nino and urged member states to take advantage of available instruments for regional growth.
The senior officials meeting will advise the Council of Ministers and set the stage for the 44th SADC Summit, where Zimbabwe will assume the chairmanship of the regional body.
#SADC
#SeniorOfficialsMeeting
#44thSummit
#RegionalIntegration
#PeaceAndSecurity
#ClimateChange
#Industrialisation
#Africa ContinentalFreeTradeArea
#Zimbabwe
#Chairmanship
