Communiqué of the Extraordinary Meeting of the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government Harare, Zimbabwe, April 29, 2015

1. An Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was held in Harare, Republic of Zimbabwe on 29th April 2015 and considered the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap as decided by the 34th Ordinary Summit held in August 2014 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

2. The Strategy and Roadmap operationalises the theme of the 34th Summit: “SADC Strategy for Economic Transformation: Leveraging the Region’s Diverse Resources for Sustainable, Economic and Social Development through Beneficiation and Value Addition”.

3. The Extraordinary Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government and or their representatives:

4. The Extraordinary Summit was also attended by SADC Executive Secretary, H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax.

5. H.E. Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, SADC Chairperson and host of the Extraordinary Summit welcomed the SADC Heads of State and Government and other delegates to the Republic of Zimbabwe. Opening the Summit, President Mugabe applauded the collective resolve by SADC to the industrialization of the region. He underscored the critical importance of beneficiating and adding value to the abundant resources of the region in the quest for socio-economic development and poverty eradication among the people of the region.

6. Summit commended the people and governments of Six (6) SADC Member States namely Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Mauritius, Zambia and Lesotho for holding peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.

7. Summit congratulated Their Excellencies, President Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama of Botswana, Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Anerood Jugnauth of Mauritius, President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi of Mozambique, President Edgar Lungu of Zambia, President Dr. Hage Geingob  of Namibia and Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili of Lesotho for emerging victorious in the elections held in their respective countries.

8. Summit witnessed the handing over, by the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Robert Gabriel Mugabe, of the Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre, a facility established in Zimbabwe to harmonize peacekeeping training in the SADC region. In her acceptance speech, the SADC Executive Secretary, Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, thanked the Republic of Zimbabwe for the generosity of donating the Centre to SADC as it plays a pivotal role in the maintenance of peace, security and political stability in the region, which are prerequisites for development.

9. Summit approved the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap and reaffirmed the importance of industrial development in poverty alleviation and the economic emancipation of the people of the region.

10. The SADC Industrialisation Strategy is anchored on three pillars, namely, Industrialisation, Competitiveness and Regional Integration, and premised on a three-phase long perspective covering 2015 -2063. The Industrialisation Strategy is aligned to the Continental Vision, Agenda 2063, a global strategy aimed at optimising the use of Africa’s resources for the benefit of all Africans.

11. Summit underscored the critical importance of infrastructure in support of industrilisation and the need to explore appropriate funding mechanisms to support the implementation of the Industrialisation Strategy.

12. Summit directed the Secretariat to finalise the development of a costed Action Plan to facilitate the urgent implementation of the Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap.

13. Summit directed that the industrialization strategy be accorded top priority in the implementation of the Revised RISDP (2015 – 2020).

14. The Summit commended the Council of Ministers, the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration, the Experts and the SADC Secretariat for an excellent job in finalizing the Industrialisation Strategy in record time.

15. Summit approved the Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (2015 – 2020) that will guide the implementation of SADC programmes in the next five years, with four major priority areas, namely, Industrial Development and Market Integration; Infrastructure in Support of Regional Integration; Peace and Security Cooperation as a prerequisite or regional integration and Special Programmes of regional dimension.

16. Summit noted progress on the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite initiative and the launch of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) by the Tripartite Summit, which is scheduled to take place in June 2015. In this regard, Summit noted the draft Declaration Launching Phase II Negotiations for the TFTA and endorsed the principles to guide SADC in the finalisation of the Declaration.

17. Summit noted progress on the Tripartite Industrialisation Pillar and urged SADC, COMESA and EAC to urgently finalise the Roadmap and programme of work on Industrialisation.

18. Summit also noted the state of preparedness for the launch of the negotiations for the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) and adopted a common SADC position on industrialisation within the context of the CFTA negotiations.

19. Summit conveyed heartfelt condolences to the family, the people and Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, on the death of Brigadier General Ambassador Hashim Mbita (Rtd), former Secretary General of the then Organisation of African Unity Liberation Committee, during which he immensely contributed towards the liberation of the SADC Region in particular, and Africa in general.

20. H.E. President Jacob Zuma of the Republic of South Africa briefed Summit on the recent attacks against foreign citizens, including those from SADC Member States that occurred in parts of Durban and Johannesburg communities of South Africa. While condemning the attacks, Summit commended the measures that the Government of South Africa has put in place and resolved to work together to deal with the situation and ensure it does not recur.

21. Summit received a Report on the progress made with the Madagascar National Reconciliation process. Madagascar expressed appreciation to SADC and international support in this process.

22. The Extraordinary Summit was officially closed by the SADC Chairperson, H.E. President Robert Gabriel Mugabe of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

23. Summit expressed its appreciation to the Government and people of Zimbabwe for hosting the Summit and for the warm hospitality extended to all the delegates.

DONE AT HARARE, ZIMBABWE
APRIL 29, 2015

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