Minister Dlamini Zuma to attend SADC Council of Ministers Meeting

Cape Town – South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on Thursday 28 February 2008 depart for Lusaka, Zambia where she is scheduled to lead a South African government delegation to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for Thursday - Friday 28 - 29 February 2008.

Minister Dlamini Zuma, supported by Foreign Affairs Director-General Dr. Ayanda Ntsaluba, will attend the SADC Council of Ministers meeting within the context of South Africa’s priority to strengthen and consolidate SADC institutions with a view to advancing Africa’s Development.

The SADC Council of Ministers meeting is expected to review:

• Preparations for the SADC International Consultative Conference on Poverty and Development;
• Preparations for the SADC/East African Community/Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Tripartite Summit; and
• The abolition of the Integrated Committee of Ministers (ICM).

In addition, the Council is expected to receive reports on the status of Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations; the SADC Job Evaluation Exercise, floods in the region as well as the report from the SADC Finance Sub-Committee on the Community’s budgetary obligations for 2008.

Minister Dlamini Zuma is expected to depart from Lusaka on Friday 29 February 2008 for Gaborone, Botswana where she will attend the 7th Africa – Nordic Consultations scheduled from Monday – Tuesday 3-4 March 2008.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

27 February 2008