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 in the SADC Region,
Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community, 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 afternoon!
As we conclude this meeting of the Council of Ministers, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all Ministers and Heads of Delegation for the constructive and forward-looking spirit that characterised our deliberations over the past few days here in Durban.
I trust that you have enjoyed the creativity, vibrancy and warmth of KwaZulu-Natal.
Throughout the Council, we reflected on our region’s priorities and our shared responsibility to advance the aspirations of our peoples. We considered matters that speak directly to our region’s future, including the implementation of our collective agenda for sustainable development.
Our discussions reaffirmed that the prosperity of one Member State is linked to the prosperity of all. That the security of one is connected to the security of all. And that the future of one is ultimately intertwined with the future of all. This understanding has held our community together for decades.
Honourable Ministers,
A key focus of our meeting was the alignment of our regional roadmap with the core priorities of the theme of the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit: Resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World.
Distinguished Delegates,
Throughout our discussions, we have been reminded that regional integration must ultimately deliver meaningful improvements in the lives of our citizens. The success of our work will be measured less by the decisions adopted here than by their translation into practical outcomes that expand economic opportunities, strengthen resilience and improve livelihoods across the region.
We commend the progress made by Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia in pushing back the frontiers of hunger. Even so, 58 million people in our region still live with the uncertainty of where their next meal will come from. This figure is much too high and raises the alarm that we must accelerate our efforts.
The urgency is even greater when we consider unemployment, which disproportionately affects the youth and women of our region. As we noted in our assessment of the state of the region, unemployment exceeds 30% in six Member States, placing the relative peace and stability of our region in peril.
With 60% of our population being young people, we must respond to their demand for jobs, skills and opportunities, as well as the support they need to build enterprises and thrive.
Likewise, the women of our region must participate fully as architects of our common future. They want freedom from violence and fear, which is why we must move with speed to increase women’s representation and participation in the spaces where decisions affecting their lives are made.
Meeting all these aspirations requires transforming the productive structure of our economies. This means increasing manufacturing’s contribution to our GDP, bringing us closer to our target of 30% by 2030. It also means building regional value chains and increasing trade between and among our respective countries.
Our rural communities must also know that we will be better prepared when the next climate disaster or pandemic strikes. This is why we must move with urgency to operationalise the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC).
Colleagues,
The people of our region look to this Organisation to advance development, promote peace and stability and drive economic transformation.
Fulfilling that responsibility will require us to translate our commitments into concrete action at national and regional levels through sustained collaboration among Member States, effective coordination with the Secretariat and continued engagement with our regional and international partners.
Honourable Ministers,
We cannot afford to bask in the glory of past successes. We must accelerate our advance towards Vision 2050 with urgency and resolve, quickening the pace of implementation while remaining alert, resilient and proactive in responding to developments beyond our control.
Distinguished Delegates,
At this Council, South Africa also had the opportunity to brief the Community on a matter that has caused much anguish and apprehension in our region – violence targeting migrants in our country. We have also taken the Council into confidence on the measures taken to address this concerning development.
South Africa welcomes and appreciates this region’s collective wisdom in addressing the matter. We appreciate the dialogue. We appreciate the counsel that our region must take greater ownership of the migration narrative. We also appreciate the constructive path we are forging on this issue.
We have every confidence that, with our collective leadership and resolve, and drawing on our history of solidarity with one another, the harmonious coexistence of our peoples is possible. Safe, orderly and regular migration is in the interests of our entire region.
Let us strengthen regional integration and build a more prosperous, resilient and inclusive future for the people of our region and, by extension, our continent.
Let us carry forward the spirit of solidarity and shared responsibility that has characterised our discussions.
With these remarks, I declare this meeting officially closed.
I thank you!
Merci beaucoup!
Muito Obrigado!
Asante Sana!
Siyabonga!
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