The Council of Ministers of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) met on 13-14 August 2025 in Antananarivo, Republic of Madagascar in preparation for the 45th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled to be held on 17th August 2025 in Antananarivo, Republic of Madagascar.
The Council of Ministers meeting was held under the theme; “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC,” where Honourable Dr. Rafaravavitafika Rasata, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Madagascar assumed the role of Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, taking over from Honourable Professor Amon Murwira, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
In her acceptance speech, the Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, Honourable Dr. Rasata, expressed deep appreciation for the honour to host the first meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers in Madagascar, twenty years after the Republic of Madagascar joined SADC in 2005.
She pledged her commitment towards executing her mandate as the Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers with the firm determination to pursue and strengthen the SADC’s efforts for a more prosperous, more integrated and more resilient SADC, for the benefit of all SADC citizens.
Hon. Dr. Rasata highlighted that Madagascar’s commitment to SADC is aligned to its goals to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth that fully benefits SADC population.
“To us, SADC is an essential pillar for regional cooperation and solidarity, which we know we can rely on to address the challenges we are faced with and seize available opportunities together,” she said in her acceptance speech.
Outgoing Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, Honourable Professor Amon Murwira, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe underscored the need for unity and solidarity in achieving peace and security, regional integration and a shared prosperity for the people of the SADC region.
“We are on a sacred mission. That sacred mission is a mission of economic liberation and prosperity," stressed Honourable Prof. Murwira in his remarks. He added; “individually, we are extremely weak. The formation of SADC enhances sovereignty. It doesn't compromise sovereignty".
Reflecting on Zimbabwe tenure as Chair of the Council of Ministers, Hon. Prof. Murwira commended Member States for the support and commitment that enabled the SADC region to record several milestones in the past year and reaffirming the commitment to strengthening our resilience and unlocking sustainable inclusive growth in the SADC region and across the African continent.
“As a region let’s take ownership of our regional development agenda by harnessing our human capital and natural resources and reduce reliance on external support,” he said.
On peace and Security, Hon. Prof. Murwira, highlighted that the SADC Mutual Defence Pact, the region’s instrument for collective defence and the preservation of peace and stability, remains the cornerstone upon which peace and security is safeguarded. On this note, Hon. Prof. Murwira urged Member States to be united in addressing the threats to peace which he said, have the potential to undermine intra-SADC trade, if not contained.
On his part, the SADC Executive Secretary, His Excellency Mr. Elias Magosi, called on Member States to explore opportunities presented by the unprecedented geopolitical developments, rising tariffs, and a sharp decline in foreign aid that are disrupting trade and investment flows across the SADC region.
“While the reduction in foreign aid presents undeniable challenges, it also offers a unique opportunity for the SADC region to reflect and reduce its overdependence on external support. It is becoming increasingly clear to all of us that, we stand a better chance when we depend more on our own than on external support, which we have absolutely no control over,” the SADC Executive Secretary highlighted.
The following are some of the key outcomes of the Council of Ministers meeting.
The Council of Ministers observed a Moment of Silence in honour of the late Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, Sixth President of the Republic of Zambia; His Excellency Mr. David Mabuza, former Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa; His Royal Highness Prince Mabandla Dlamini, former Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini. The Minister further paid their tributes to two SADC Secretariat Staff, the late Ms. Antoinette Manana, Programme Officer for Gender Mainstreaming from the Kingdom of Eswatini, late Ms. Nthabiseng Liphapang, Head of the Legal Affairs Unit from the Kingdom of Lesotho, and the brave men and women who lost their lives while serving under the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (SAMIDRC).
The Council approved the draft Framework on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) and Transitional Justice, an instrument that aims to promote and facilitate the proper design and implementation of PCRD and Transitional Justice initiatives that consolidate peace and prevent the resurgence of violence in the SADC region.
The Council commended the Republics of Mauritius, Seychelles, and Zimbabwe for implementing Visa Exemptions for all SADC Member States, allowing free movement of people in the region and urged other Member States to do the same for the region to realise the benefits of economic integration.
The Council acknowledged the challenges faced at the Kasumbalesa Border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Zambia and commended the two Member States for their continued efforts to resolve the challenges faced by transporters and traders at their bilateral border posts. Further, the Council urged the affected Member States to adopt the corridor-wide approach to infrastructure development, transport, and trade facilitation towards addressing the challenges at Kasumbalesa and other border posts along the corridors.
The Council endorsed the decisions of the Committee of Ministers of Trade held on 5th June, 2025
approving that SADC should respond to the imposition of tariffs by the US, based on a coordinated regional position, and strengthening coordination between Ministers of Finance and Trade
urging Member States to build self-reliance on intra-SADC trade in goods and services and eliminating trade restrictions between each other
urging Member States to fast-track ratification and implementation of relevant SADC Protocols, notably the Protocol on Industry, Protocol on Trade and Protocol on Trade in Services.
urging Member States to collaborate on industrialisation policies to improve value addition and beneficiation of critical raw materials produced by the region.
The Council approved the new Regional Water Policy 2025 as a regional framework to guide the implementation of SADC Water Programmes, to ensure increased regional water security, and improved and coordinated management and development of the region’s water resources.
The Council commended the Republic of Madagascar for signing the Intergovernmental Memorandum of Agreement (IGMoA) establishing the SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE) and hailed the signing of the Agreement as clear demonstration of the country’s commitment to clean energy, promote energy efficiency, and expand access to energy for the Malagasy people.
The Council urged Member States to support the full rollout and implementation of the SADC Pooled Procurement Services (SPPS) for essential medicines and medical supplies through active involvement and participation; and commended International Cooperating Partners for the provision of Technical Assistance in the roll out of the Group Contracting Model which will to operate on the principle of variable geometry especially in view of the immediate needs of Member States.
The Council urged Member States to adopt measures that ensure women’s representation and meaningful participation in the political and decision-making positions, in line with the target of the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, in particular the critical area of women in power and decision making.
The Council approved the establishment of the SADC First Spouses’ Forum on Environment which will bring together the First Spouses of SADC Heads of State and Government to advocate and champion initiatives that address and unlock the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and waste, affecting sustainable development in the SADC region.
The Council of Ministers approved the SADC Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development and Competitiveness Strategy as a regional framework aimed at enhancing the contribution of SMEs to industrial development and enabling their effective participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Council of Ministers urged Member States that are not parties to SADC Legal Instruments that have entered into force to accede to those SADC Legal Instruments; and those that have not signed or ratified SADC Legal Instruments that have been adopted but are not yet in force to sign or ratify those SADC Legal Instruments.
The Council approved the SADC Communication, Awareness and Visibility Strategy 2025–2030 which presents a comprehensive framework of strategic actions aimed at enhancing the visibility and awareness of SADC’s programmes and initiatives. With its multi-channel approach, integrating both traditional and digital communication platforms, the Strategy is designed to contribute meaningfully to the achievement of the key outcomes outlined in the RISDP 2020–2030 and SADC Vision 2050.
The Council endorsed and congratulated the winners of the 2025 SADC Media Awards and Secondary School Essay Competition and encouraged all SADC Member States to participate in these competitions, which play important role in promoting regional integration, raising awareness of SADC’s objectives, and engaging citizens, particularly the youth and media, in the regional development agenda. The winners of these competitions will be officially announced at the opening ceremony of the 45th Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The SADC Council of Ministers is an institution of SADC established under Article 11 of the SADC Treaty to oversee the functioning and development of SADC and to ensure that SADC policies are properly implemented. The Council consists of Ministers from each Member State, usually from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economic Planning or Finance. The Council of Ministers meeting is usually preceded by the meeting of the SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials, which is a technical advisory committee to the Council of Ministers and acts as a clearing house for the Council agenda.
