Make Sadc great, citizens should embrace it

It is Malawi’s turn to host the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Heads of State and Government Summit and Lilongwe, the capital city, is the venue.

This is the third time after 1997 and 2013 that Malawi is playing host to the regional major calendar event as the 16-member States strive to promote regional integration through trade, fostering peace and industrialisation.

Sadc was formed in 1980 as the Southern African Development Coordinating Conference (Sadcc). It transformed or rebranded to Sadc in August 1992 and its mission is to promote sustainable and equitable economic growth and socio-economic development through efficient, productive systems, deeper cooperation and integration, good governance and durable peace and security to make the region a competitive and effective player in international relations and the global economy at large.

In alphabetical order, members of Sadc comprise Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The 41st Summit will see President Lazarus Chakwera taking over the chairmanship of the bloc from his Mozambican counterpart Filipe Jacinto Nyusi . The summit is coming in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic that has ravaged economies in the region. Congratulations are in order.

It will be held under a befitting theme Bolstering Productive Capacities in the Face of Covid-19 Pandemic for Inclusive, Sustainable, Economic and Industrial Transformation. The Sadc Secretariat says the theme seeks to accelerate the implementation of the Sadc Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030, in particular, the Industrialisation and Market Integration pillar.

The summit is also expected to take stock of progress made in promoting and deepening regional integration in line with Sadc’s aspirations as expressed in the plan as well as the bloc’s Vision 2050 which envisages a peaceful, inclusive, competitive, middle-to-high-income industrialised region where all citizens enjoy sustainable economic well-being, justice and freedom.

During the summit, Sadc executive secretary Stergomena Lawrence Tax will also bid farewell to the heads of State and government at the end of her eight years of leading the bloc. Coincidentally, Tax was sworn-in as executive secretary during the 33rd Sadc Summit Malawi hosted in Lilongwe in August 2013.

Yesterday, Vice-President Saulos Chilima delivered a Sadc public lecture under the theme Promoting Digitalisation for Revival of Sadc Industrialisation Agenda in the Covid Era.

Catchy themes, I must say, for both the summit and public lecture. However, the proof of the pudding is in the eating; hence, the Sadc citizens will judge or assess the success of the usually colourful gatherings based on what trickles down to them.

For a long time, Sadc has talked about “regional integration”, but the reality on the ground is that progress is slow. There is still work to be done. Intra-regional trade is low as is industrialisation.

The citizens will appreciate Sadc more if the bloc eases movement of people by way of one passport, for instance. There is also need for the regional economic bloc to improve road, rail and air connectivity among its members for ease of doing businesses.

Lack of a well-developed manufacturing industry also limits Sadc member States’ ability to trade more among themselves yet with a population of about 360 million, the region offers a huge market for goods and services. Trade among Sadc member States is estimated at about 20 percent as a proportion of overall trade of the region.

They say charity begins at home. Sadc should ensure implementation of initiatives that stimulate industrial growth to add value to raw and semi-raw natural resources and agricultural produce most member States rely for export earnings.

It is encouraging that there are efforts to turn around the situation.

It is my expectation and that of many a Sadc citizen to experience free and smooth connectivity within the region without hindrance regardless of the mode of transport. The Sadc Summit should strive to deliver and desist from being a seen as a talking shop.

It is time to take Sadc to the people, they should know about it. The citizens should own it. They should be proud of the bloc.

Welcome to Malawi Sadc delegates. Together, let’s make Sadc great!