President Thabo Mbeki to lead SA Delegation to the SADC Summit

 Pretoria - South African President Thabo Mbeki will, tomorrow Wednesday 15 August depart for Zambia where he will lead a high-powered South African Ministerial delegation including Minister of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma to the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for Thursday-Friday 16-17 August in Lusaka.

South Africa is participating in the SADC Summit within the context of its commitment to strengthening and consolidating SADC as a sub-regional economic bloc and a vehicle for the attainment sustainable regional political and economic integration and development.

On Wednesday, President Mbeki supported by Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to participate in the meeting of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security scheduled for later in the day to discuss the regional political situation.

On Thursday-Friday, President Mbeki will lead the SA delegation to the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government to discuss among others:

• the political situation in the region including Lesotho, DRC and Zimbabwe;
• infrastructure development in the region;
• Ministerial recommendations regarding:

(i) Economic integration processes in the region;

(ii) The status of implementation of the Free Trade Area scheduled for 2008.

(iii) Food security;

 (iv)Tourism related issues with a focus on 2010 FIFA World Cup and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Tournament scheduled for Angola;

(v) And the schedule of payments of member states.

The South African Ministerial delegation to the SADC Ministerial meetings include Ministers Trevor Manuel, Mandisi Mpahlwa, Lulu Xingwana, Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Charles Nqakula, Mosiua Lekota and Deputy Minister Rob Davies.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

14 August 2007