Malawi commits to Sadc Vision 2050
Malawi yesterday committed to help the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) realise its goals and objectives as espoused in its Vision 2050.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Luckie Sikwese made the commitment during the official opening of the Standing Committee of Senior Officials at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC).
He officially took over chairmanship of the committee from Carlos Rodrigues Da Costa of Mozambique.
Said Sikwese: “The government of Malawi is, therefore, committed to work tirelessly with you all in the realisation of the goals and objectives of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020 to 2030 and Sadc Vision 2050 thereby translating the aspirations of our fore fathers into realities.”
The Sadc Vision 2050, which was launched in March 2021, sets out the long-term aspirations of the bloc over the next 30 years while the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan outlines the proposed development trajectory for the region until 2030.
The 40th Ordinary Summit of Sadc held virtually on 17 August 2020 in Mozambique, approved both the Sadc Vision 2050 and Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan.
The launch of Sadc Vision 2050 took place barely two months after Malawi launched its own long-term development blueprint, Malawi 2063, which replaced Vision 2020 and aims to transform Malawi into a wealthy and self-reliant industrialised ‘upper middle-income country’ by the year 2063.
Sikwese told the session that Sadc is making great strides in many areas of regional economic cooperation and integration.
He said Malawi was also pleased with specific aspirations of the Sadc Vision 2050 particularly on ensuring a peaceful, inclusive, competitive, middle to high income industrialised region, where all citizens enjoy sustainable economic well-being, justice, and freedom by 2050.
On his part, the outgoing chairperson Da Costa, thanked all member States for supporting his tenure of office and prayed for their continued peace and co-existence.
Yesterday’s meeting of the Sadc committee of senior officials precedes the upcoming meetings of the Sadc Council of Ministers and the 41st Ordinary Summit of the Sadc Heads of State and Government.
The main role of the meeting is to fully prepare the work to be considered and adopted by the Sadc Council of Ministers.
According to the programme, the Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held from August 17 to August 18, 2021.
Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Eisenhower Mkaka yesterday said 10 heads of State have confirmed their physical participation.
The summit has brough together about 400 delegates and will be held under the theme ‘bolstering productive capacities in the face of Covid-19 pandemic for inclusive, sustainable, economic and industrial transformation.’
Malawi hosted the Sadc Heads of State and Government Ordinary Summit in August 1997 and August 2013.
