The 37th Southern African Development Community-SADC Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government which came to a close in Pretoria today has welcomed the Union of Comoros as a new member of SADC.
The inclusion of the Union of Comoros brings the number of member states of the SADC region to 16.
The assessment of the application by the Republic of Burundi is still on going.
And the summit bid farewell to Botswana President Lieutenant General Doctor Seretse Khama Ian Khama and Angola President José Eduardo dos Santos, respectively.
Meanwhile, the summit has urged member states to operationalize the 2017 theme through implementation of projects which are in line with the focus areas.
Areas which member states have been directed to focus on include Agro-processing, mineral benefaction, energy, pharmaceuticals, boosting skills to enhance regional integration and to create mechanism for the involvement of the private sector.
This is contained in a Communique of the 37th Summit of Heads of state and Government read by the SADC Executive Secretary Stergomena Lawrence Tax at the close of the summit in Pretoria, today.
The 37th SADC Ordinary Summit for 2017 theme was ‘Partnering with the private sector in developing industry and regional value chains.
On improvement of energy in the region, the summit directed that a regional natural gas committee be constituted to promote the inclusion of gas in the regional energy mix for industrial development.
And the summit has noted that the high prevalence in HIV and AIDS especially adolescents and young people is fueled by drug abuse.
The summit therefore directed the secretariat to urgently develop a comprehensive Regional Strategy to deal with drug abuse and cyber-crime.
Meanwhile, the SADC signing three legal instruments which came out of the 37th SADC Summit among them the Protocol for the Protection of new varieties of plants in the SADC region.
And President Lungu signing the amended protocol on gender and development at the close of the summit amid calls by the summit for member states to make efforts to reach the 50:50 gender parity in political and decision making positions in the public service.
And in his closing statement SADC Chairperson Jacob Zuma, who is also South Africa President said the theme aims to ensure realization of industrialization to develop region.
President Zuma pointed out that member states have lived up to the principles of democracy, peace and security, rule of law.
The Talk Shop is now closed until next time!!
Has Edgar fired Emmanuel Mwamba yet, for ruining his SADC meeting? Its Mwamba who invited insults from those two lunatics.
What an embarrassing trip for your Lungu, look at him, sore bwana.
President Zuma told President Lungu not to intetain these two boys Maimune & Mamela…
Zambia should just leave this useless SADC the add no value to our democracy!
what Zambian democracy are you talking about? We are now a fully fledged dictatorship.
How can the founder leave what he founded. Are you normal?
Hey guys i cant see the president of Dindumwezi Republic or ex-kaili # 1 H.E kainde chilema on the picture-kikikikikikiki!!is his country not part of SADC?
Or sorry i forgot Dundumwezi is an area in Zambia and Zambia only has one president,i.e;H.E Edgar Lungu “abashala nibangwele”!!!
Well done president ECL for your good works at SADC summit!!!
In short ulingwele!
Okay your excellencies expecting you all to meet next in Nairobi for another photo-op .Lets inaugurate Uhuru Kenyatta .
Maimane and Malema were made to look more diplomatically wiser than Ukwa Jonathan Jameson who looked so st.upid with egg all over his ugly face! I mean, after throwing him out of Zambia, just how else did he expect Maimane to respond to his so called “summon” but decline it? The better he realizes that he is nothing outside of Zambia the better. Even in Zambia, one half if the country doesn’t recognize him, it’s agony sure Jonathan Jameson (JJ).
It all started in Barotseland where people including HH refused to give way to his motorcade. This will spread to Southern, Central and North-Western sooner than later. And with his bu kamwendo munjila addiction, we will see if he can arrest half the country for treason. This will only end up badly for Jonathan, badluck sure!
may their souls rest in peace MTSRIP u mean SADC did farewell to Botswana pRESIDENT AND Angola, YABA TOO BAUT for the farewell MTSRIP, VERY HARD WORKING MEN INDEED
I have lived in Zambia even before multiparty democracy, however what I have noticed is that every one who has ever been president in this country has been called a dictator , just starting from FTJ, Mwanawasa , RB, MCS and now EL.
I wonder if there will ever be a democratic Zambia , do Zambian really know democracy!