SADC Executive Secretary, Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax today briefed H.E. Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Incoming Chairperson of SADC on preparations, programme and agenda of the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government taking place in Victoria Falls on 17th and 18th August, 2014.
Dr. Tax informed President Mugabe that Summit will receive reports of the Outgoing Chairperson of Summit and of the Outgoing Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and security Cooperation; a report on the Review of the Regional indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), which sets out the priority milestones for the region; and a report on the SADC Tribunal.
She said Summit will take cognisance of the political and socio-economic situation in the region, particularly the global economic situation; performance of the SADC economy; Gender and Development; Food security; HIV and AIDS.
“Bearing in mind that the theme for this year is: “SADC Strategy for Economic Transformation: Leveraging the Region’s Diverse Resources for Sustainable Economic and Social Development through Beneficiation and Value Addition”, efforts will be made to prioritise beneficiation and value addition in SADC’s economic strategies and programmes during the tenure of Zimbabwe as Chair of SADC and thereafter”, Dr. Tax said.
The Executive Secretary furthermore said that two very important activities, namely the historical launch and presentation of the Publication on the Hashim Mbita Research on the Southern African National Liberation Struggle; and the launch of the Statistical Yearbook, will take place at Summit.
On the international arena, Summit is expected to deliberate on the conflict in the Middle East and as such reiterate SADC’s solidarity with the people of Palestine.
President Mugabe thanked the Executive Secretary for the brief and assured her that Zimbabwe is committed to ensure that the 34th Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government is held successfully with firm commitments towards regional integration and development.
