Communiqué of the 37th Summit SADC of Heads of State and Government OR Tambo Building, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Pretoria, South Africa, 19th – 20th August 2017
1. The 37th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was held at OR Tambo Building, Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria, in the Republic of South Africa on 19th and 20th August 2017.
2. Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government and or their representatives:
- Swaziland: H.M. King Mswati III
- South Africa: H.E. President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
- Botswana: H.E President Lieutenant General Dr. Seretse Khama Ian Khama
- Namibia: H.E President Dr Hage G. Geingob
- Seychelles: H.E. President Danny Faure
- Zambia: H.E. President Edgar Chagwa Lungu
- Zimbabwe: H.E. President Robert Gabriel Mugabe
- United Republic of Tanzania: H.E. Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan
- Madagascar: H.E. Prime Minister Olivier Mahafaly Solonandrasana
- Lesotho: Right Hon Prime Minister Dr Motsohae Thomas Thabane
- Dem. Rep. of Congo: H.E. Prime Minister Bruno Nzenzhe Tshibala
- Angola: H.E Hon. Georges Chikoti, Minister of External Relations
- Malawi: Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Fabiano, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
- Mozambique: H.E Mr. Oldemiro Julio Marques Baloi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
- Mauritius: H.E Ambassador Mrs Dwarka Canabady, Secretary for Foreign Affairs
3. Summit was also attended by H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax,
SADC Executive Secretary, H.E. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank and H.E. Dr. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
4. Summit elected His Excellency, Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa as Chairperson of SADC and His Excellency, Dr Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia as Deputy Chairperson of SADC.
5. Summit also elected His Excellency, Jose Eduardo dos Santos President of Angola as Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Cooperation and elected H.E. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia as incoming Chairperson of the Organ
6. Summit endorsed the 37th SADC theme of “Partnering with the Private sector in developing industry and regional value-chains” as the 2017 Summit Theme.
7. Summit Urged Member States to operationalize the 2017 Theme through implementation of projects which are in line with focus areas of Agro-processing, Mineral Beneficiation, Energy, Pharmaceuticals, boosting skills to enhance regional integration and create a mechanism for the involvement of the private sector.
8. Summit directed that a regional Natural Gas Committee be constituted to promote the inclusion of gas in the regional energy mix for industrial development.
9. Summit Commended the Outgoing Chairperson His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Swaziland for his exemplary leadership during his tenure, and for convening a successful Investment Forum on Energy and Water Projects.
10. Summit noted progress made in the operationalisation of the SADC University of Transformation and urged Ministers responsible for Education and Training; and Science, Technology and Innovation to expedite the finalisation of the preparatory work for the operationalisation of the University.
11. Summit urged Member States to speed the process of operationalizing the SADC Regional Development Fund in order to support the Industrialization Agenda.
12. Summit noted progress in the implementation of the Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2020-2063 in specifically profiling of value chains in the three priority sectors of agro processing, mining and pharmaceuticals and urged Member States to keep the momentum and develop and actualize the identified value chains.
13. Summit commended the South African Government for convening a successful SADC Industrialisation Week. Summit noted the outcomes of the industrialization week and urged Member States to operationalise the outcomes by partnering with the private sector in developing industry and regional value chains.
14. Summit noted the improvement in the overall 2017/18 food security situation in the region and urged Member States to take measures to improve storage facilities in order to minimise post-harvest losses and put in place contingency plans.
15. Summit Urged Member States to explore risk insurance options in cases of climate change related disasters including facilities that are available at the African Development Bank.
16. Summit approved the Protocol for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants in the SADC Region which will provide for the establishment of an effective system of plant variety protection, promote the development of new varieties of plants for the benefit of the region and protection of breeders’ rights.
17. Summit commended Member States who have reached the 50:50 gender parity in political and decision making positions in the public service and private sector and urged Member States that have not reached the target to strive towards reaching the target at all levels.
18. Summit also noted that HIV and AIDS remains a major challenge affecting significant numbers of adolescents and young people, predominantly females, and that the high prevalence in HIV and AIDS is exacerbated by drugs abuse. Summit directed the Secretariat to urgently develop a comprehensive Regional Strategy to deal with drug abuse and cyber-crime.
19. Summit congratulated the new Coalition Government in the Kingdom of Lesotho following elections on 3 June 2017 and urged the new Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho to expedite the implementation of all SADC Decisions. In this regard, the Summit urged the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho to develop and submit a roadmap on the implementation of SADC decisions with concrete, clear milestones, and deliverables and report progress at the next meeting of the Double Troika Summit to be held before November 2017.
20. Summit approved the extension of the tenure of the Oversight Committee to continue acting as an early warning mechanism, and to monitor and assist the Kingdom of Lesotho to implement SADC decisions.
21. Summit welcomed the commitment by the Government of Lesotho to the implementation of SADC Decisions, and the commitment of the Basotho to engage in a national multi-stakeholder dialogue, to be convened expeditiously and progress to be presented during the Double Troika Summit to be held in November 2017.
22. Summit reiterated the need for a multi-stakeholder dialogue, bringing together all relevant stakeholders in the Kingdom of Lesotho, which will enable an inclusive and transparent means of, ultimately, implementing the Reforms recommended by SADC. This dialogue must be led by Basotho with SADC providing expertise to support the dialogue process.
23. Summit noted a number of challenges that have made it is unrealistic for the DRC to hold elections in December 2017 as originally planned and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI) to publicise the revised electoral calendar in consultation with the Government and the National Council for Monitoring the Implementation of the Agreement (CNSA) of 31st December 2016.
24. Summit called upon the international community and all stakeholders to continue supporting the implementation of the 31 December 2016 Agreement and respecting the wishes of the Congolese people with a view to ensuring the sustainable peace, security and stability of the DRC.
25. Summit urged all stakeholders to refrain from actions that would undermine the political and security stability with regard to developments which led to the escalation of violence and insecurity in the Kasai Provinces.
26. Summit approved the appointment a Special Envoy to the DRC in light of the political and security dynamics, particularly in preparation for the elections and mandated the SADC Chairperson H.E. President Jacob Zuma and the Outgoing Chairperson H.M. King Mswati III to finalize consultations and the appointment of the Special Envoy.
27. Summit commended President Joseph Kabange Kabila, the Government of the DRC and other stakeholders for the progress made in implementing provisions of the December 31st 2016 Peace Agreement.
28. Summit deplored and condemned the extra-continental interferences in AU Member States affairs, in particular, the unilateral practice of targeted sanctions against Congolese personalities by non-African organisations and countries, in conflict with the principles of sovereignty of States and of non-interference; and call upon these organisations to withdraw the sanctions and to avoid taking such measures in the future by promoting dialogue and mutual respect.
29. Summit admitted The Union of Comoros as a new Member of SADC and noted that the assessment of Burundi is work in progress.
30. Summit was concerned that colonialism on the continent is yet to be eradicated. In this regard, Summit approved the convening of a SADC Solidarity Conference with Western Sahara, after whose outcomes will be shared with the African Union Commission.
31. Summit re-affirmed SADC's support and recognition of the importance of the reforms at the African Union and emphasized the importance of complying with the African Union Constitutive Act, and the African Union guiding rules and procedures while carrying out the reforms. Further, the reforms that are contrary to the Constitutive Act should be implemented once the Constitutive Act has been amended. In this regard, Summit Mandated the Chairperson of SADC to submit the position of SADC on African Union Reforms to the Chairperson of the African Union.
32. Summit commended H.E. Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and outgoing Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defense and Security, for the outstanding leadership and sterling job done during his tenure. Summit also commended H.E. President Lt General Seretse Khama Ian Khama of Botswana for his active involvement and exemplary leadership in SADC. Summit further commended President Jose Edwardo Dos Santos for his outstanding leadership in SADC.
33. Summit expressed condolences and solidarity with the People and Governments of Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo on the loss of life and property due to unprecedented floods and mudslides.
34. The Ordinary Summit was officially closed by SADC Chairperson, His Excellency President Jacob Zuma, who thanked all the Heads of State and Government for attending the 37th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of States and Government.
35. Summit expressed its appreciation to the Government and the people of the Republic of South Africa for successfully hosting the 37th Ordinary Summit and for the hospitality during the Summit period.
Done at Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, 20th August 2017
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