SADC Chairman President Cyril Ramaphosa has challenged the regional leaders to make the 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government the springboard needed to transform the region.
Speaking when accepting the new role of being SADC Chairman from Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, Ramaphosa said the people of the region are asking them to deliver the dividend of economic liberation.
“They want decent jobs, growing industries, reliable electricity, affordable food, quality healthcare, education and opportunities for young people. Let us therefore turn our borders into bridges. Let us turn our resources into industries and our youthful population into a powerful demographic dividend. Let us turn our solidarity into shared prosperity,” he said.
Ramaphosa said a tributary does not lose its identity when it joins a great river. “It gains reach, depth and power. In the same way, regional integration does not diminish our sovereignty. It multiplies our collective capacity to secure the wellbeing of our people.”
He said the outcome of their deliberations and resolutions must be implemented. He said they must be properly costed, funded, assigned and monitored.
“Let this summit be remembered not merely for the declarations we adopt, but for the decisions we implement. Let eThekwini, the city in which the African Union was launched, become the place where SADC renewal and determination to build a truly integrated regional economy is discovered,” the SADC chairman said.
He said as chairman, he accepts the responsibility entrusted to him by the region, and accepts it conscious of the debt of gratitude South Africa holds for the countries of Southern Africa, who gave their freedom fighters refuge during their struggle against apartheid.
“This region stood for the people of South Africa. They provided shelter to our freedom fighters and supported our struggle and endured destabilisation and economic hardships and loss of lives because they believed that no country in Southern Africa could remain oppressed. Our participation in SADC is founded upon this history of courage, sacrifice and solidarity.
It is sustained by our conviction that the destiny of the countries of Southern Africa are inseparable and that our progress will be secured only through unity, cooperation and common purpose,” he said.
President Ramaphosa expressed his gratitude to President Mnangagwa for his leadership and stewardship during his chairmanship of SADC and he will remain indebted to him for advice and guidance.
“During our period as chairmanship, we will work with every Member State, guided by the principles of sovereignty, equality, mutual respect, solidarity and consensus. Our foremost responsibility will be to improve the lives of the people of Southern Africa. We must deepen regional integration so that goods, services, capital and skills can move more efficiently across our borders,” he said.
The SADC chairman said he will work to improve the value chain in the region to expand intra-Africa trade by mobilising investment and improving infrastructure.
“We have made tremendous progress in this regard and we will be building on what has already been achieved. We will do everything we can to advance the industrialisation agenda where we put our young people and women entrepreneurs at the centre of our region’s economic transformation. At the same time, we will continue to safeguard peace, security, democracy and stability,” he said.
PRESIDENT MNANGAGWA CONGRATULATES KING
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa has praised South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, who stepped in as interim chairman in the last 10 months after Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina was deposed from office late last year.
He commended Ramaphosa for his astute and visionary stewardship of SADC during a period he described as a very challenging and complex geopolitical landscape, ensuring that regional integration remained intact.
Mnangagwa challenged the SADC leaders to enhance and build strong financial and industrial capabilities. He said whilst the value of international partnerships, experience and hindsight has shown that over-reliance tends to compromise countries’ sovereignty.
The president welcomed the establishing of the SADC Regional Development Fund, saying its coming in is timely and remains a cornerstone for development. He encouraged those countries who are yet to sign the protocol to do so quickly.
President Mnangagwa congratulated His Majesty the King for assuming the Chairmanship of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. He assured the king of Zimbabwe’s support throughout his tenure as Chair of the Organ Troika.
He said the ongoing conflict and humanitarian challenges in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remain concerning.
President Mnangagwa then thanked the SADC leaders for supporting Zimbabwe’s seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for a year, starting in September. He said this is not just a seat for Zimbabwe but for the region and the entire African continent and they will work towards advancing peace and justice in the world.
