FAQs

The SADC Summit is attended by Heads of State and Government from the 16 Member States; cabinet ministers, especially those responsible for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, as well as others deemed relevant depending on the theme of the Summit; and various invited delegates, including those from International Co-operating Partners. The Summit is responsible for the overall policy direction and control of functions of the community, ultimately making it the policy-making institution of SADC. It is made up of all SADC Heads of States or Government and is managed on a Troika system that comprises of the current SADC Summit Chairperson, the incoming Chairperson (the Deputy Chairperson at the time), and the immediate previous Chairperson.

The Troika System vests authority in this group to take quick decisions on behalf of SADC that are ordinarily taken at policy meetings scheduled at regular intervals, as well as providing policy direction to SADC Institutions in between regular SADC Summits. This system has been effective since it was established by the Summit at its annual meeting in Maputo, Mozambique, in August 1999. Other member States may be co-opted into the Troika as and when necessary.

The Troika system operates at the level of the Summit, the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, the Council of Ministers and the Standing Committee of Senior Officials.

The Troika system vests authority in the SADC Chairperson, Incoming (Deputy) Chairperson and the Outgoing Chairperson of SADC. The institutional reform exercise in 2001 decided to continue with this system, which was introduced at the 1999 SADC Summit held in Maputo, Mozambique. Under the system, SADC gives the Troika authority to take quick decisions on behalf of SADC that would ordinarily be taken at policy meetings scheduled at regular intervals, as well as the power to provide policy direction to SADC institutions in between regular SADC Summits. 

The SADC Organ on Politics Defence and Security is also managed on a Troika basis and is responsible for promoting peace and security in the SADC Region. It is mandated to steer and provide Member States with direction regarding matters that threaten peace, security and stability in the Region. It is coordinated at the level of Summit, consisting of a Chairperson, Incoming Chairperson and Outgoing Chairperson, and reports to the SADC Summit Chairperson.

The SADC Summit and Organ Troika Summit are mutually exclusive; and, the Chairperson of the Organ does not simultaneously hold the Chair of the Summit. The Organ structure, operations and functions are regulated by the Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. Like the Summit chair, the Organ chair rotates on an annual basis.

The Troika system operates at the level of the Summit, the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, the Council of Ministers and the Standing Committee of Senior Officials.

Two days after poling day, the Head of Mission releases the Preliminary Statement at a public forum. The Preliminary Statement covers the Mission’s observations of the pre-election and voting processes. The Preliminary Statement, among others, highlights the Mission’s observations in areas such as the political and security environment, participation of women, people with disabilities, and minority groups, the legal framework governing elections and the level of access to public media during the campaign period. The Preliminary Statement also highlights observations on the polling day and makes recommendations for improving the conduct of future elections based on the challenges encountered and drawing from international best practices in the management of elections.

In accordance with the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2015) SEOM’s Final Report is presented within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of the electoral cycle. Both the SEOM Preliminary and Final Reports draw largely from observations of deployed observers, consultations with political and electoral stakeholders, review of election-related legal instruments and media reports. The Final Report is submitted to the Chairperson of the Organ and to the Electoral Management Body of the Member State.

Between 2018 and 2019, the SADC Electoral Observation Missions (SEOMs) were deployed to ten SADC Member States which held their national elections, namely: Kingdom of Eswatini and the Republics of Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

Pursuant to Article 4.1 of the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2015), Member States shall invite SEOMs to observe their elections, based on the provisions of the SADC Treaty, Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

In order to come up with a well-informed report, SEOM undertakes extensive consultations with a broad range of political and electoral stakeholders with the aim of getting a deeper understanding of the political and security situation in the electoral process. Some of the key stakeholders include Government Leadership, Leaders and Representatives of Political Parties, Contesting  Candidates, SADC Ambassadors Accredited to the Country Holding the Elections, Heads of Diplomatic Missions and International Organizations, the state security agencies, Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs), Non-Governmental Organisations, Civil Society Organizations, Academia, Traditional Leaders, Local and International Electoral observation Missions, Religious Groups and Faith Based Organizations, the Media etc.

As a standard practice and in line with the principle of subsidiarity, SADC hosts a meeting of all Heads of International Observation Missions, on the eve of the polling day. The African Union hosts a similar meeting one day after polling day. The objective of the meetings is to share notes and experiences so as to have a common understanding of the electoral matters before the observer missions present their statements, but also to invite them to join and share a platform with SEOM during the Release of the SEOM Preliminary Statement.

The SADC Electoral Observers are guided by the Code of Conduct which prescribes the expected behaviour and conduct of observers during their electoral observation. The Code of Conduct, as stipulated in the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, forms part of the training and orientation of all observers prior to deployment. No person is deployed as an observer without first undergoing training.

During their training, SADC observers are oriented on the political, electoral and security situation as well as the legal context of the election in the relevant Member State, in addition to the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections. The Code of Conduct for SADC Electoral observers stipulates, among others, the need to observe all national laws and regulations; maintain personal discipline and behaviour that is beyond reproach; maintain strict impartiality in the conduct of duties, and not to express any bias or preference in relation to national authorities, parties and candidates contesting in the electoral process; and to refrain from making personal or premature comments or judgements about their observations to the media or any other interested persons.

SEOM is also obliged to comply with the Electoral Code of Conduct for International Observation Missions in the respective Member State, the Constitution and Electoral Laws of the country.

The SADC Electoral Observer Mission (SEOM) is headed by the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. Upon receipt of invitation letters from Member States for SADC to observe their national elections, the Chairperson of the Organ appoints the Head of Mission (HoM) to lead the Mission to the Member State holding elections. The Chairperson is supported by the Organ Troika, comprising of the Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO), Incoming and Outgoing Chairpersons, and two members of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC). The Chairperson may also appoint an Alternate Head of Mission to assist the Head of Mission.  

The SEAC is a technical structure that advises SADC on all matters pertaining to electoral processes and the enhancement of democracy and good governance in the SADC region. In accordance with the principles and guidelines, SEAC undertakes its activities in three phases of the electoral cycle; pre-election, election and post-election periods. During the pre-election period, thus before SEOM is constituted, SEAC undertakes Goodwill Missions to among others, reflect on possible conflict situations in respective countries on matters pertaining to electoral processes and renders advice to the Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on the development of mediation strategies, before, during and after elections. During the election period, SEAC provides advisory services to the SEOM and the Organ Troika. In the post-election period, SEAC undertakes post-election reviews, which is of particular relevance should there be a conflict situation.

In line with Article 8.2.1 of the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2015), SEOM Observers are drawn from all Member States and are expected to meet the following criteria:

(i)    They shall be citizens of Member States of SADC;

(ii)    Preference shall be given to candidates with prior election observation experience;

(iii)   A reasonable number of observers must have basic knowledge of at least one of the official languages of the country of deployment

(iv)  Observation of gender balance; and

(iv) Observers to be constituted from among others:  government representatives, Members of Parliament, military or security, civil society organizations, electoral bodies, and the academia.

The deployment of SEOMs is facilitated and supported by the SADC Secretariat in terms of logistical preparations and administrative arrangements. The Secretariat also facilitates the in-country deployment of Observers and the pre-deployment training, while Member States are required to meet all the costs related to travel and daily subsistence allowances. 

The SADC Brigade supports regional peace operations under the African Standby Force Policy Framework. The Brigade, launched in August 2008, is made up of military, police and civilian members from SADC Member States.

The function of the Brigade is to participate in missions as envisaged in Article 13 of the "mandate" of the Peace and Security Protocol relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, which includes:

• Observation and monitoring missions;
• Peace support missions;
• Interventions for peace and security restoration at the request of a Member State; and
• Actions to prevent the spread of conflict to neighboring states, or the resurgence of violence after agreements have been reached.

The SADC Brigade serves in peace-building efforts, including post-conflict disarmament and demobilisation and humanitarian assistance in conflict areas and areas impacted by major natural disasters.

The SADC Brigade operates as a tool of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation and receives its guidance from the SADC Committee of Chiefs of Defence staff and the Committee of SADC Police Chiefs.

Training of the Brigade at all levels is a key priority for SADC. The Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre located in Zimbabwe and other national peace support training institutions play a pivotal role in training military commanders, police officers and civilian officials at various levels.

Member States demonstrate the political will to cooperate in political, defence and security matters. Cooperation in the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts within and between states is essential for an environment of peace, security and stability in the Region.

However, despite political will, the Region still faces potential and actual military threats that include armed conflicts in some Member States, unfinished demobilisation, disarmament, reintegration and monitoring of former military personnel, terrorism, and the prevalence of landmines.

The Protocol on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation was signed by Member States in 2001 and it covers matters of State Security including “Reconginsing and re-affirming the principles of strict respect for sovereignty, sovereign equality, territorial integrity, political independence, good neighbourliness, interdependence, non-aggression and non-interference in internal affairs of other States.”

The Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ identifies objectives and related strategies and activities to achieve the overall objectives outlined in the Protocol. Plan objectives related to state security include:

Objective 1: Protect the people of the Region against instability arising from conflict.

Objective 2: Promote regional co-ordination and cooperation in defence and security.

Objective 3: Conflict prevention, management and resolution.

Objective 4: Implementation of the Mutual Defence Pact in response to external military threats.

Objective 5: Cooperation between law enforcement agencies and state security services among Member States.

Despite the above positive developments, the State Security sector still faces a number of challenges. These include:

• Enhancement of the capacity to prevent the subversion of the constitutional order and national sovereignty;
• The negative effects of globalisation such as the growing vulnerability of national borders, increase in organised and transnational crime, drug trafficking, money laundering and human trafficking;
• Terrorism;
• Enhancement of bilateral relations;
• Implementation of Early Warning System (EWS);
• Limited resources;
• Food in security;
• Protection of maritime resources;
• Transactional Organised Crime;
• Illegal migration;
• Maritime piracy;
• Economic threats; and
• Foreign interference.

One can participate in the SADC Secondary Schools Essays competition by writing an essay that promotes SADC Regional Integration and submit this to SADC Secretariat through the SADC National Media Coordinators in their Member State. The SADC Secondary School Essay Competition is open only to secondary school students from the SADC Member States; Angola, Botswana, Union of the Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The SADC Secondary School Essay Competition was established in 1996 to recognise best students work in disseminating information on SADC to support the process of regional co-operation and integration in the Region. The first prize winner receives US$1,500, second prize winner receives US$1,000 and the third prize winner receives US$750.

The SADC Media Awards were established in 1996 to recognise best media work in disseminating information on SADC to support the process of regional co-operation and integration in the Region. The SADC Media Awards are open annually to journalists from the SADC Member States in the photo, print, radio and television categories. One can participate in the SADC Media Awards competition by submitting a media entry (photo, television, print article and radio) that promotes SADC Regional Integration and Cooperation to the National Adjudication Committee (NAC), through the National Media Coordinator. The National Adjudication Committee meets and selects one best entry in each category and submits them to the Regional Adjudication Committee (RAC) through the SADC Secretariat. The first prize winner in each category receives US$2,500 and the runner-up receives US$1000.

Positions at the SADC Secretariat are in different groups. There are Regional Positions, Local Positions and Project Positions. Regional positions are positions from the level of officers and above that candidates from all SADC Member States are eligible to apply in line with the quota system. All Member States have equal points in the quota system.  All regional positions are advertised through the SADC Website and in all SADC Member States through the SADC National Contact Points who then shortlist and submit to the SADC Secretariat for another level of shortlisting, interviewing and recruitment.

Local positions are only applicable to citizens of Botswana and they are at the level below officers. Local positions are advertised locally in Botswana. Project positions refer to the positions supported by Cooperating Partners. These positions apply to all Member States irrespective of quota points. 

SADC National Media Coordinators are persons responsible for SADC public information in their respective Member State. Their contact details can be found on https://www.sadc.int/media-centre/media-contacts/

SADC National Contact Points are people tasked to handle enquiries about SADC and release information about the institution to the public, and these are usually Permanent Secretaries in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation or External Affairs in Member States.  Their contact details can be found on https://www.sadc.int/member-states/

SADC has over the years recorded Institutional, Socio-Economic, and Peace and Security achievements and milestones. Some of the achievements and milestones are listed below:

• Deeper integration through the signature of 33 protocols as well as systematic strategic plans, which include the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan; Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation; SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap (2015-2063); SADC Regional Agricultural Policy 2015;  and SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan 2012. These have laid a strong legal, institutional and strategic foundation for advancing regional cooperation. 
• The decision to frontload industrialisation is a major milestone taken following realisation that previous efforts to increase intra-regional trade were being hampered by the fact that there was little capacity in Member States to produce goods that can be traded competitively with and outside the region. This led to the adoption of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063, which seeks to achieve major economic and technological transformation at national and regional levels to accelerate economic growth through industrial development. The Industrialisation Strategy has also recognised the private sector as a major player to SADC industrialisation and regional integration as a whole.
• The historic launch in 2008 of the SADC Free Trade Area, which saw a phased programme of tariff reductions by all Member States and resulted in more than 85 percent of intra-regional trade among Member States attaining zero duty status. This has been complemented by efforts by Member States to open up their borders to citizens of fellow Member States in the spirit of promoting the free movement of goods, and services, and facilitation of movement of persons within the Region
• The approval of the Financial Inclusion and SME Access to Finance Strategy and Implementation Strategy in 2018 has enhanced financial inclusion in Member States. Ten Member States have developed either financial inclusion strategies or a national roadmap on financial inclusion, and there has been an 8 percent improvement in financial inclusion among adults in the Region, which stands at 68 percent
• The SADC Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) multi-currency platform went live in October 2018 to facilitate faster and more effective payment transactions in the Region. All Member States, except Comoros, are participating in the SADC-RTGS and a total of 85 banks (central banks and commercial banks) are also participating in the system. The SADC-RTGS has enabled Member States to settle payments among themselves in real time compared to previously when it used to take several days for banks to process cross border transactions.
• The SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP) was approved in 2012 and was informed by the realisation that infrastructure development and maintenance is a priority for accelerated regional economic integration. In line with the RIDMP, the Region has also adopted the concept of One-Stop Border Posts, a key element of the corridor transport and logistics infrastructure programme, as a means to reduce transaction costs for crossing a border.
• SADC Member States have taken significant steps towards implementation of the wildlife protocol through developing Trans-Frontier Conservation Areas. There are 18 terrestrials and marine TFCAs in the region at different stages of development, including the Great Limpopo TransFrontier Park (GLTFP) established in 2002 by Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) established by Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe in 2006.
• The adoption and institutionalisation of a standard, comprehensive package that addresses the unique challenges in providing equitable and effective HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and provision of services to key and vulnerable populations within SADC has contributed greatly in curbing the spread and effects of HIV and AIDS.
• SADC Declaration on Gender and Development was approved during the 17th SADC Summit in Blantyre in August 1997 and acknowledges that gender equality is a fundamental human right and demands equal representation of women and men in decision-making structures at all levels as well as full access by women to, and control of, productive resources and formal employment.
• Promotion of Gender Equality and Equity continued through various legal instruments and programmes, including through the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development that was approved in 2008 and revised in 2016 to align it to the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals and Targets, the African Union Agenda 2063, the Beijing +20 Review Report, other global targets and address emerging issues. Following approval of the Gender Protocol, most Member States have undertaken comprehensive constitutional reviews and all Member States have specific provisions in constitutions and statutes that forbid discrimination on the basis of sex. Thirteen (13) Countries have Constitutional provisions that has a specific clause that promote gender equality. All the SADC Member States have national gender policies or strategies/action plans in place and some are in the process of reviewing their gender policies. Most Member States have made notable progress toward equal participation and representation of women in politics and decision-making. 
• The establishment of strong regional mechanisms to facilitate deeper regional integration through institutions such as River Basin Organisations, Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), and the SADC Climate Services Centre
• To facilitate the faster implementation of programmes, SADC has established a number of Centres of Excellence (CoEs) and Centres of Specialisation (CoS) covering priority areas. CoEs include the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE)). A number of frameworks and guidelines have also been approved for the establishment of CoEs and CoS in other thematic areas.
• The Regional Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Programme was established in 1999 and is being implemented in 15 Member States. This has evolved to be one of the most reliable and robust early warning tools for agriculture as well as food and nutrition security interventions in the Region.
• The SADC Centre for Distance Education was established in 2005 as an Open and Distance Learning (ODL) Centre in partnership with Commonwealth of Learning to support the development, management and quality of ODL in the Region.
• Adoption of the Regional Water Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Flood Early Warning System in 2015 has contributed to improvements in climate and weather forecasting, whereby SADC established the Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum.  The forum provides a platform for Member States to review the rainfall season in the region, as well as to discuss the potential impacts of the consensus seasonal climate outlook on other socio-economic sectors including disaster risk management, food security, health, water resources and hydropower management. 
• Adoption of a SADC Regional Disaster Risk Management Strategy and Fund in 2017 has contributed to the enhancement of regional disaster management and responses capacity.
• Improved Transboundary Cooperation in Water and Other Natural Resources has improved transboundary management of resources, thereby reducing potential conflicts over shared resources. Examples of such cooperation include the establishment of River Basin Organisations and Transfrontier Conservation Areas across the Region.
• Through unwavering regional solidarity and unity among Member States, SADC has continued to speak with a common voice on continental and global issues. The Region has stood together in addressing challenges facing Member States. Evidence of this is seen in the regional interventions addressing the political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kingdom of Lesotho, and support for Western Sahara. The Region is currently seeking ways to address the insurgency situation in northern Mozambique.
• SADC was at the forefront of the global campaign to end apartheid in South Africa. The culmination of the regional pressure led to the collapse of the apartheid system and the independence of Namibia (1990) and South Africa (1994).
• The Organ for Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation was launched during an Extra-Ordinary Summit in Gaborone in June 1996 as a formal institution of SADC with the mandate to support the achievement and maintenance of security and the rule of law in the SADC Region.
• Establishment of the SADC Parliamentary Forum as an autonomous institution comprising all the national parliaments of Member States and seeking to promote dialogue and popular participation, particularly at the grass-root level, in the affairs of SADC. It is based in Windhoek, Namibia.
• SADC Region is one of the most stable and attractive Regional Economic Communities in Africa. SADC has handled some of the political and security challenges in Member States well and has been able to solve its own problems without much outside interference. As part of effort to ensure that the Region remains stable and peaceful, SADC developed viable instruments such as the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections in 2004 (revised in 2015) and joint operations through institutions such as the SADC Standby Force and the SADC Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre in 2003.

The main objectives of SADC are to achieve economic development, peace and security, and growth, alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of the peoples of Southern Africa, and support the socially disadvantaged through Regional Integration.