BY SIBUSISEKILE NDLANGAMANDLA
MANZINI – The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has commenced preparations towards the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government following the convening of the Standing Committee of Senior Officials in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The meeting marked the official beginning of engagements leading to the regional summit and also saw the formal assumption of the Chairship of the SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials by the Republic of South Africa for the period August 2026 to August 2027. As the new Chair, South Africa reaffirmed its commitment to promoting regional integration, sustainable development, peace and security, good governance and economic growth. The country’s leadership will be guided by the aspirations of the SADC Treaty, the SADC Vision 2050 and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030.
The Standing Committee of Senior Officials serves as an important platform where Member States deliberate on strategic issues affecting the region and provide technical guidance on programmes and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of citizens across Southern Africa.
Representing the Kingdom of Eswatini at the meeting are senior government officials from key ministries, including the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade.
The Ministry of Economic Planning and Development is represented by Director of SADC Thobile Dlamini, who is participating in discussions focusing on regional policy, governance and development priorities. The outcomes of these deliberations will be submitted to the SADC Council of Ministers for consideration before eventual adoption by the Summit.
The engagement provides Member States with an opportunity to assess progress made in implementing regional programmes while strengthening cooperation in areas such as economic development, peace and security, and shared prosperity. Through active participation in SADC structures, Eswatini continues to contribute towards regional initiatives aimed at advancing integration, improving coordination among Member States and supporting sustainable development across the region. The 46th Ordinary SADC Summit is expected to provide further direction on strengthening regional cooperation and accelerating the implementation of programmes aligned with the aspirations of SADC citizens.
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