Wallace Ruzvidzo in ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar
AS he stepped onto the podium to hand over the SADC Chairmanship here yesterday, President Mnangagwa had a spring in his step.
Who would fault him?
He was handing over a better SADC to his Madagascan counterpart President Andry Rajoelina, one set and already primed for a much brighter future.
The President, who took over the reins on August 17 last year, urged the current crop of leaders in the region to defend and continuously improve the international order bequeathed by the region’s founding fathers.
“The future well-being, development and a higher quality of life of all peoples, particularly us in Africa and the global south, depends on a just, inclusive and rules-based multilateral system.
“For the good of both present and future generations, us, the current crop of leaders, have a duty to defend and continuously improve the international order bequeathed to us by our predecessors,” said President Mnangagwa in his keynote address during the opening ceremony of 45th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held here.
The Summit, held under the theme, “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC”, was attended by other Heads of State and Government, including South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Botswana’s Duma Boko, Mozambique’s Daniel Chapo, Namibia’s Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam.
Heads of State and Government who did not attend were represented at various levels.
President Mnangagwa said during his tenure, the regional bloc had collectively realised successes in developing institutions that underpin democracy and good governance.
As SADC Chair, the President was officially handed over the SADC Secretariat Headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana on behalf of the region, following its full acquisition.
Also in his capacity as Chairman of SADC, the President, accompanied by his Botswana counterpart, Boko, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony of the 19-hectare SADC Standby Force Regional Logistics Depot, which will play an important role in enhancing the region’s preparedness and response to conflict and humanitarian emergencies.
“Collectively, we realised successes in developing institutions that underpin democracy and good governance,” President Mnangagwa said.
“Together with His Excellency, Advocate Boko, President of the Republic of Botswana, we commissioned the construction of our Regional Logistics Depot in Botswana.
“Member states are urged to equally provide the requisite funding to ensure the timely completion of this critical infrastructure.”
SADC, said the outgoing Chairperson, remained steadfast in its commitment to ensuring peace in the Eastern parts of the DRC, hence the appointment of a panel of mediators earlier in this month.
The panel comprises former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza, former Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde, and former Botswana President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.
“We appointed five Former Heads of State to facilitate inclusive dialogue, build trust and peacebuilding initiatives.
“We welcome the outcome of the Joint SADC-EAC Summit held earlier this week and the African-led Peace Process, which reinforces our philosophy of African solutions to African problems,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the Peace Agreements brokered by the USA and Qatar were also welcome as they would complement the African-led processes underway towards peace, stability and development in Eastern DRC.
“The peace and stability prevailing in our region is worth applauding as reflective of our joint obligation to silencing the guns.
“I commend the outgoing Chairperson of the Organ, Her Excellency, Dr Samia Hassan, and the Organ Troika Member States, for their gallant work over the past year, for the realisation of durable consolidating peace and security in our region,” said the President.
In terms of the region’s integration efforts, he said the development of strategic corridors, one-stop border posts and digital infrastructure must remain top priority.
“The integration we envisage heavily depends on our ability to develop infrastructure, which facilitates the free movement of people, capital, goods and services across our borders.
“Major milestones have been recorded in implementing high-impact regional infrastructure projects.
“The full potential of our regional bloc has, regrettably, been largely inhibited by budgetary constraints,” he said.
In this respect, President Mnangagwa said it was imperative that SADC urgently comes up with inventive and sustainable sources of funding.
“In this regard, let us not shy away from tapping into partnerships with the private sector, our Diaspora, and other non-traditional sources.
“The SADC Regional Development Fund is a low-hanging fruit, which, when operationalised, will provide alternative financing for critical infrastructure projects. I am pleased to report that Zimbabwe has ratified the Protocol.
“However, the number of ratifications remains far below the threshold required. The need to expedite internal processes on this matter, within our respective jurisdiction, is essential to drive progress,” he said.
The outgoing SADC Chair said the region’s efforts towards food and nutrition security and the development of agro-based value chains had borne mixed results due to climate change-induced phenomena such as droughts.
He, however, encouraged member states not to be deterred but instead scale up investments in innovative strategies for climate change adaptation, mitigation and resilience.
“I applaud our Incoming Chairperson, His Excellency, Rajoelina, for the timely theme, Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC,” said President Mnangagwa.
“This rallies us to accelerate our efforts towards an industrialised, resilient region, where citizens have food and nutrition security as well as energy self-sufficiency.”
On the region’s shared natural resources, he said the stewardship exhibited by member states had been encouraging.
“I am encouraged by the progress we have made in the stewardship of our shared natural resources,” President Mnangagwa said.
“The SADC Trans-Frontier Conservation Areas International Conference and Summit was held in Harare this May.
“The gathering provided us with an opportunity to reaffirm our combined commitment to the sustainable utilisation of our God-given resources for the benefit of local communities.”
The mid-point review of SADC’s Regional Indicative Strategic Plan, said President Mnangagwa, was coming at a time when the world is witnessing unprecedented geo-strategic tensions and global economic policy uncertainties.
Notwithstanding the uncertainties, SADC had managed to lay foundations in some areas, he added.
“We express gratitude to the Executive Secretary for his Report on the performance of our region over the past five years. which shows areas where we have laid a firm foundation in advancing our vision,” said the President.
“The Report also highlights the unprecedented threats facing our Region, and most importantly, suggests areas that require our introspection and concerted efforts. The Mid-Term Review, which is underway, must be leveraged for this purpose”.
Under his tenure, events such as the SADC Industrialisation Week have now become an annual occurrence, providing platforms for networking, towards enhanced industrialisation, trade and investment.
President Mnangagwa said it was alarming that intra-regional trade remained relatively low, nonetheless.
“Regrettably, our exports continue to be driven by primary products, and intra-regional trade remains far less than our business with other regions,” he said.
“Our prosperity is inevitably tied to the success of our neighbours and to that of our region as a whole, and the continent.”
President Mnangagwa expressed gratitude to member states, the SADC Secretariat, African union Commission, United Nations and International Cooperating Partners for the support they accorded him during his Chairmanship.
“This event marks the end of Zimbabwe’s Chairmanship. On behalf of the people and Government, I express our gratitude to you, my brothers and sisters, the African union Commission and the United Nations, and International Cooperating Partners, for the partnership and support you rendered to my Government and indeed to me, during the past year.
“It has truly been a privilege to serve our region, and to work with you all.
“I would also like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the SADC Executive Secretary, His Excellency Mr Magosi, and his team for their dedication to the achievement of our shared objectives,” he said.
The President also singled out the Namibian President, who was attending the Summit for the first time as Head of State.
“It is my pleasure to welcome, Her Excellency, Dr Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is joining our Summit, as Head of State and Government of our sister Republic, Namibia.
“I am confident that her astute leadership and experience will provide valuable insights in shaping the strategic direction of our regional organisation,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also took time to pay tribute to former Presidents of Namibia and Zambia, Dr Sam Nujoma and Dr Edgar Lungu, who passed on this year.
“This year, we sadly lost one of our Founding Fathers, a revolutionary, His Excellency Dr. Samuel Nujoma, former President of the Republic of Namibia.
“We also lost a revered Statesman, His Excellency Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, former President of the Republic of Zambia.
“May their enduring legacies bring solace and inspiration to their families and the SADC region.
“May their souls continue to rest in peace,” said the President.
The outgoing SADC Chairperson also expressed gratitude to SADC for standing with Zimbabwe in calling for the unequivocal removal of Western imposed unilateral coercive measures.
“These are indeed a hindrance to the prosperity of the entire SADC region. Zimbabwe remains open and ready to engage and re-engage with all progressive members of the international community,” he said.
“As the SADC region, we firmly believe in the cardinal principles of the United Nations Charter with regard to sovereign equality and territorial integrity of nations being sacrosanct.
“Unilateralism and coercion, among other inexcusable violations of international law, cannot be allowed to become the norm within the comity of nations.”
President Mnangagwa wished his counterpart President Rajoelina a successful tenure as SADC Chair.
“As I hand over the mantle to my dear brother, His Excellency Rajoelina, I would like to wish him every success in the discharge of his responsibilities,” he said.
“I also wish His Excellency, Dr Lazarus Chakwera, success in the execution of this important mandate. I am confident in your leadership towards advancing our regional integration agenda.”
In his acceptance speech, President Rajoelina pledged to build on his predecessor’s successes.
“It is time to industrialise more, to better connect our economies and to strengthen our collective autonomy,” he said.
Also in attendance at the summit were Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Minister of Industry and Commerce Mangaliso Ndlovu, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya, Deputy Chief Secretary (Presidential Communications) Mr George Charamba, Zimbabwean Ambassadors to Madagascar and Botswana David Hamadziripi and Henry Mukonoweshuro and Attorney General Virginia Mabiza, among other senior Government officials.