Programme Director,
Honourable Professor Amon Murwira, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe and Outgoing Chairperson of Council,
Incoming Chairperson of the Council of Ministers, the Republic of Zambia,
Honourable Ministers of Foreign Affairs from our sister countries of the SADC Region,
Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Mr Elias Magosi,
Chairperson of the Standing Committee of Senior Officials, Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo,
Heads of Delegation,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Senior Government Officials,
Distinguished guests,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Morning!

It is with great humility and a profound sense of responsibility that, on behalf of the Republic of South Africa, I accept the SADC Chairpersonship for 2026–2027.

We are honoured by the confidence placed in South Africa by our fellow Member States. We accept this mandate fully conscious that this role does not belong to South Africa alone.

This is a collective responsibility that we must discharge in the interests of our Community, guided by the principles of solidarity, unity, sovereign equality and shared prosperity.

Allow me, at the outset, to extend our gratitude to the Republic of Zimbabwe for the important work undertaken during its tenure; to the Incoming Chair, the Republic of Zambia; and the Troika for safeguarding continuity during the transition.

Colleagues, Excellencies,

We take heart as we assume this role in this city of Durban – a city that occupies pride of place in our peoples’ quest for freedom.

The Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre bears the name of a leader whose own life embodied the interconnected character of Southern Africa long before regional integration became part of our vocabulary.

Born at Solusi Mission near Bulawayo, in present-day Zimbabwe, to a family originating from what was then Natal, he later reconnected with his roots in the province as a teacher, traditional leader and President-General of the African National Congress.

Luthuli, as we all know, became the first African to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. His journey reminds us that the histories of our countries are intertwined.

Excellencies,

Twenty-five years ago, in this city and in these very halls, the world came together for the first ever UN conference to confront the persistence of racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance.

A year later, in July 2002, the Organisation of African Unity became the African Union in this very city. This marked the decisive transformation of a continental body born out of anti-colonial struggles and the quest for African unity into an institution charged with advancing the shared development and political integration of a free continent.

These two moments embody twin convictions. One is the belief that a just world order can only be realised if we dismantle discrimination, injustice and intolerance in all their forms. The other is an unwavering conviction that Africa must take charge of her destiny and continually renew her institutions to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

We urge this Council of Ministers to see these connected histories not simply as incidental, but as a source of strength as we confront the questions presented by our own time.

Esteemed colleagues,

In that spirit, allow me to highlight the strategic priorities for South Africa’s Chairpersonship under the leadership of His Excellency, President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa.

First, we will promote peace, security and stability. The security of one Member State is inseparable from the security and stability of the entire Community.

Our regional bloc has a proud history of collectively responding to threats to peace and security in our region. Time and again, we have demonstrated that regional solidarity remains our greatest strength in addressing emerging security and political challenges.

Second, we will pay special attention to accelerating industrialisation through agricultural transformation, critical-minerals beneficiation, increased regional trade and the development of regional value chains.

There is a growing consensus that rising demand for critical minerals presents a unique opportunity for our region’s economic and social development. Nearly 30% of the world’s proven critical mineral reserves are found in the region, which also includes approximately 50% of the world’s cobalt reserves and 20% of the world’s graphite reserves.

Yet we know too well that this opportunity is not a foregone conclusion. We know from earlier chapters in our unfolding story that our region’s wealth has nourished economies far and wide, while our own economies have remained trapped in old patterns of extractive accumulation. Reversing this pattern requires us to beneficiate our resources, build regional value chains and trade more with one another.

Similarly, at only 20%, trade among countries within our bloc is still far too modest. The potential that can be unlocked by intra-regional trade is enormous. To illustrate this point, in 2018, the African Export-Import Bank placed the untapped potential of intra-Africa trade at 84 billion US dollars. Our region accounts for 53 billion US dollars of this untapped potential.

During our tenure, we will ensure the implementation of our Skukuza retreat objectives to achieve 50% intra-SADC trade and harnessing of critical minerals for beneficiation at source.

Third, we will champion the expansion and modernisation of the infrastructure that connects our region. Reliable energy, efficient transport corridors, modern ports, integrated digital networks and dependable water systems are indispensable to regional connectivity, industrialisation and the movement of goods and services across our region.

Without these foundations, regional manufacturing cannot expand. At only 10% of GDP, it cannot generate employment on the scale our region requires.

Fourth, we will strengthen social and human capital development. The future of our region depends on our ability to equip our people with the knowledge, capabilities and opportunities required to shape it.

We are the continent with the youngest population in the world. The median age across Africa is 19 years. Nearly 60% of our population is under the age of 25. And by 2030, within the next four years, one in four young people in the world will be from Africa.

This is in sharp contrast to populations elsewhere, particularly Europe and parts of Asia, where population ageing is a serious reality. At approximately 1.4 billion people, we are also the fastest-growing continent in the world.

This means our economies and level of job creation must be at the same par with population growth.

It is for these reasons that these strategic priorities will be underpinned by a sustained focus on gender equality, climate resilience and disaster-risk management. These considerations must run through every aspect of our regional programme because our development cannot be inclusive if it is gender-blind, leaves young people behind or fails to prepare our communities for climate and other shocks.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is in this wider context that questions of migration and human mobility must also be understood. South Africa is experiencing an increasingly vigorous public debate about irregular migration, the integrity of national borders, access to economic opportunities and the pressures experienced by communities and public institutions.

However, as we address the legitimate concerns of our citizens, we equally and forcefully reject all forms of vigilantism and human rights violations. Addressing the challenges associated with irregular migration must occur within an orderly and lawful framework.

We are fully aware that the movement of people across our region is frequently connected to broader questions of economic opportunity and employment and not just a security issue.

Indeed, as Durban’s story shows, our country’s industrial development immensely benefited from the large labour pools from our region and beyond.

We are hopeful that, together, we can chart a path towards holistic and long-lasting solutions to the migration challenges facing our region. We therefore call on countries within our bloc to sign the protocol on the free movement of people to enable regular and orderly migration.

I wish to thank SADC for recalling the principle of subsidiarity during the debate on migration at the 49th AU Executive Council, as the region most affected by this issue. Indeed, this session presents an opportunity to engage with the matter and take it forward.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The world as we know it is in a state of flux. Great power competition, increased external shocks, the increasing frequency of climate disasters, the threat of pandemics and the turn inward by advanced economies invite us to renew our determination to build a peaceful and inclusive region, where all citizens enjoy sustainable economic well-being, justice and freedom.

The people of our Community yearn for a region where they can thrive, where their countries trade with each other, where advanced infrastructure connects them to their neighbours and where jobs and economic opportunities are plentiful.

In the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020–2030, we have the building blocks to attain the future we yearn for. But frameworks acquire meaning only when they are translated into improvements in the lives of our people.

Let us use this moment to renew our commitment to bridging the distance between the ambitions expressed in our regional instruments and the capacity of our institutions to realise them.

As Southern Africa’s most industrialised economy, we recognise the duty and obligation to place our capabilities at the service of regional integration and shared prosperity. We approach the Chairpersonship in that spirit, with humility, purpose and a commitment to work with every Member State.

Allow me to conclude by wishing Zambia to hold free and fair elections on the 13th of August 2026. Democracy remains the cornerstone of development. We wish the people of Zambia peaceful elections.

I thank you!

Merci beaucoup!

Muito Obrigado!

Asante Sana!

Inkomu.

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