BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
MBABANE – Eswatini has joined fellow Southern African countries in shaping the region’s development agenda, as the SADC Council of Ministers meets in Durban to advance regional integration, economic resilience and shared prosperity.
Representing Eswatini at the high-level meeting is Minister of Economic Planning and Development Dr Tambo Gina, accompanied by Director of SADC Eswatini Thobile Dlamini and senior government officials.
The meeting comes at an important time for SADC as Member States work to strengthen cooperation and find practical ways of responding to economic and development challenges facing the region.
South Africa has formally assumed the Chairship of the SADC Council of Ministers for the August 2026 to August 2027 period. South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, is chairing the Council during the country’s leadership of the regional body.
In his opening remarks, Lamola placed peace and security, economic transformation, infrastructure development and human capital development at the centre of South Africa’s regional agenda.
He stressed that peace and stability remain critical foundations for sustainable economic development, particularly as countries seek to expand economic opportunities and improve the lives of their people.
For Eswatini, participation in the Council provides an opportunity to contribute to decisions that directly affect regional trade, investment, infrastructure, development financing and economic cooperation.
One of the key issues before the Council is the consideration of the Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030, SADC’s central framework for regional integration and development.
The ministers are also considering the organisation’s financial affairs, resource mobilisation and other measures aimed at strengthening the implementation of SADC programmes.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, called for deeper regional integration and greater self-reliance, while SADC Executive Secretary Elias M. Magosi highlighted the importance of stronger cooperation and resilience as the region responds to a rapidly changing global environment.
The Council of Ministers plays a key role in overseeing SADC’s policies, strategies and programmes before matters requiring the attention of Heads of State and Government are taken forward.
The Durban meeting is therefore part of the preparations towards the 46th SADC Summit, where regional leaders will consider major issues affecting Southern Africa.
For Eswatini, the country’s participation underscores the importance of having a voice in regional decisions that influence its economic future and its place within an increasingly interconnected Southern African market.
As SADC looks towards deeper integration, the focus is increasingly shifting from regional commitments on paper to implementation that can translate into stronger economies, better connectivity and greater opportunities for citizens across the region.
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