New Chairperson of the Southern African Development Authority (SADC), Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera yesterday vowed to steer the regional integration agenda. At the 41st Heads of State Summit held in Lilongwe, Malawi, President Chakwera insisted that the Member States must fully implement the bloc's industrialisation strategy, agriculture policy and infrastructure development master plan, to make the region become a major exporter and food basket for the continent.
"The key pillars of regional integration must be pursued and the goal of regional integration must be attained," President Chakwera stated as he delivered his acceptance speech after the outgoing Chairperson, Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique handed over SADC chairpersonship to him. Earlier, when addressing the SADC Heads of State and Governments as a guest of honour, Dr. Chakwera said since the COVID-19 pandemic has reversed the economic progress in the region, they have gathered in Lilongwe with a shared sense of urgency to revive their economies.
"As we seek to do this, we must double our efforts in the areas where we can register quick gains, chief among them is fostering an environment for the creation of jobs for young people across the region, which we must do as a matter of urgency," he said. He added: "We must revive trade across our borders and enhance industrial production within our borders and accelerate recovery of key sectors like tourism." The new SADC Chairperson further argued that reviving the regional economy required collective ability.
"Through this meeting we must rise and come up with lasting solutions," he said. He cited another threat to the regional integration agenda as climate change, which the region has been facing for years. "As we speak, unusual climate patterns continue to displace communities and destroy crops, causing great sufferings to our people. As SADC, we must speak with one voice and deploy a common strategy to address this threat," he emphasised.
He said if the region needed truly sustainable economic transformation, then regional integration is non-negotiable and the region must enhance cross border trade and investment through existing SADC mechanisms and where needs be, introduce new ones. "We must fully embrace industrialization, as an effective means of achieving the main goals of SADC. We must facilitate the movement of people," he emphasised.
On his part, outgoing Chairperson, President Nyusi said the impact of COVID-19 was still prevalent and visible considering the increasing number of new infections. He suggested that Member States should emphasize on massive testing at community level, heighten control measures, called for financial support from development partners as well as promotion of investment in the pharmaceutical sector.
This year's Summit is themed: "Bolstering Productive Capacities in the Face of the COVID-19 pandemic for Inclusive, Sustainable, Economic and Industrial Transformation". 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 two-day summit will take stock of progress made in promoting and deepening Regional Integration in line with SADC's aspirations as espoused in the RISDP 2020-2030 and Vision 2050, which envisage a peaceful, inclusive, competitive, middle to high-income industrialised region, where all citizens enjoy sustainable economic well-being, justice, and freedom.