The Southern African Development Community (SADC), with support from the Republic of Zimbabwe, will host the Meeting of the Committee of Ministers of Justice/ Attorneys General on 5th June 2026 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The meeting aims to provide legal oversight and strategic guidance on regional cooperation, governance and the harmonisation of laws among SADC Member States. It will also review progress on various legal and institutional matters within the region.
The Committee will consider a number of draft SADC legal instruments for recommendation to the SADC Council of Ministers and Summit of Heads of State and Government for consideration and approval.
The Honourable Mmamoloko Kubayi, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development of the Republic of South Africa, will preside over the meeting in her capacity as Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers of Justice/ Attorneys General.
During the meeting, the Committee of Ministers of Justice/ Attorneys General will deliberate on, among other matters, the following:
the study on categories of matters that should be implemented through Protocols and those that may be implemented through other SADC legal instruments;
the re-operationalisation of the SADC Tribunal to ensure adherence to, and proper interpretation of, the provisions of the SADC Treaty and its subsidiary instruments;
consideration and recommendation of judges for appointment to the SADC Administrative Tribunal;
the Draft Agreement Amending the SADC Treaty and recommending it to the Council of Ministers for consideration and approval, and subsequently to Summit for adoption;
the Draft Charter Establishing the SADC Pharmaceuticals Pooled Procurement Services, which seeks to establish an autonomous institution to coordinate pooled regional procurement of medicines and health commodities in Southern Africa, with the objective of reducing costs and improving access to essential medicines among Member States;
proposals to undertake a review of the SADC Protocol on Legal Affairs in areas requiring revision and/or amendment; and
the Draft Agreement Establishing the SADC Tourism UNIVISA, which aims to provide procedures and conditions for the issuance of a SADC Tourism UNIVISA for transit or tourism-related stays within the territories of participating State Parties.
The Meeting of the Committee of Ministers of Justice/ Attorneys General will be preceded by the Meeting of SADC Senior Legal Officials from Member States’ Ministries of Justice/ Attorneys General, scheduled to take place from 1- 4 June 2026.
