Strong Turnout for SADC Summit in Harare

The 44th Southern African Development Community (SADC) ordinary summit in Harare has been marked by a significant turnout, with heads of state and government from the majority of member countries attending. Despite local controversies, including the jailing of opposition activists and calls to relocate the summit, the gathering was one of the best-attended in the past nine years.
Notably, only three heads of state were absent: Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema, Comoros’ Azali Assoumani, and Mauritius’ Prithvirajsing Roopun. The 2017 summit in South Africa had the lowest attendance, with only nine of the 16 heads of state and government participating.
The theme of the Harare summit was “Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development Towards an Industrialized SADC.” Claver Gatete, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, emphasized the region’s vast natural resources and the need for innovative, homegrown solutions. He highlighted SADC’s potential to lead in sustainable development through domestic resource mobilization and innovative financing for climate initiatives.
Ahead of the summit, tensions arose between Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) over a trade dispute, leading Zambia to temporarily close its borders with the DRC. The two countries, while members of both the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) and SADC, are not bound by the trade agreements of these blocs and rely on a bilateral agreement from 2015.
Political discussions at the summit saw the removal of Eswatini’s political and security situation from the Troika Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation’s agenda. This decision came after SADC leaders noted positive progress in Eswatini, with King Mswati III’s government presenting improvements in political and security conditions.
Lesotho’s Prime Minister, Sam Matekane, received encouragement to expedite constitutional amendments aimed at resolving long-standing political crises. The SADC Panel of Elders, led by former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, is assisting in this process.
The summit also recognized the successful and peaceful elections held in DRC, Eswatini, Madagascar, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Comoros’ January elections were not discussed, though they were the first in the region this year.
Looking ahead, elections are scheduled for Botswana and Mozambique in October, Namibia in November, and Mauritius, with dates yet to be confirmed. The summit concluded with tributes to Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, attending his final summit before his term ends, and Namibian interim President Nangolo Mbumba, whose term also concludes in November.
On security issues, Angolan President João Lourenço, as the facilitator of the Luanda Peace Process, reported progress in negotiations between the DRC and Rwanda. He announced a planned peace agreement draft to be discussed on August 20. The SADC Mission in DRC (SAMIDRC), involving South Africa, Tanzania, and Malawi, continues its efforts in the eastern DRC against M23 rebels, with support from the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Security Council.