BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – Eswatini is currently part of The 43rd SADC Summit held under the theme ‘Human and Financial Capital: The Key Drivers for Sustainable Industrialisation in the SADC Region.
The theme seeks to address two of the most critical enablers in supporting regional industrialisation, namely adequate human resources in terms of numbers and technical capacity within the context of climate change and 4th Industrial Revolution, and adequate financial resources to ensure more sustainable funding mechanisms.
During the 43rd SADC Summit, His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola will take over the chairpersonship of SADC from His Excellency Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of CONGO.
Meanwhile, the official opening of the SADC Council of Ministers meeting in Luanda, Angola, was attended by Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo and some Senior Government officials.
The meeting precedes the 43rd Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads State and Government to be held on August 17,2023
“Gaborone, Botswana: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will hold the 43rd Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Luanda, Republic of Angola on 17 August 2023,” reads the website.
It further mentions that, among some of the key issues, the 43rd SADC Summit will receive the report of the Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation; review progress on implementation of the priorities of the SADC Regional.
“Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030, implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Road Map 2015-2063 and progress on the implementation of the 42nd SADC Summit Theme which is “Promoting industrialization through, agro-processing, mineral beneficiation, and regional value chains for inclusive and resilient economic growth,” reads the website in part.
The SADC Summit is responsible for the overall policy direction and control of functions of the Community, ultimately making it the policy-making institution of SADC. The Ordinary SADC Summit is held every year and is attended by Heads of State and Government from the 16 SADC Member States namely, Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe
The Opening and Closing ceremonies of the 43rd SADC Summit will be broadcast live by the National Broadcasting Station of Angola; Canal TPA Noticias and the MultiChoice Digital Satellite Television (DStv) Channel 689 from 09:00 hours – 1200 hours and from 1500 hours until 1700 hours (WAT) on 17th August, 2023.
