BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE– The Kingdom of Eswatini is set to take part in a high-level meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers, reaffirming its commitment to regional cooperation and collective development.
According to a statement published on the SADC website, the Council of Ministers will convene on March 12 and 13, 2026, in Pretoria, South Africa, to deliberate on the implementation of key regional integration programmes.
The meeting will be chaired by Ronald Lamola, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, in his capacity as Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers.
Proceedings will be guided by the theme, “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC,” which was adopted during the 45th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The theme underscores the region’s shared commitment to modernising agriculture, promoting industrial growth and investing in clean, sustainable energy solutions to build a more resilient and self-reliant Southern Africa.
Over the two-day session, ministers will review progress on the implementation of Council and Summit decisions. Discussions will also cover Disaster Risk Management, the state of regional food and nutrition security, the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund, and updates on the review of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015–2063).
In addition, the Council will consider the SADC Secretariat’s Annual Operational Plan and Budget for the 2026–2027 financial year.
The Council of Ministers meeting will be preceded by a series of preparatory engagements, including the SADC Senior Officials and Experts meeting on the Mid-Term Review of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) scheduled for March 4–5, the Standing Committee of Senior Officials on March 7–8, and the Finance Committee meeting on March 9.
As the principal policy-making institution of SADC, the Council of Ministers oversees the organisation’s functions and ensures the effective implementation of its policies and decisions. It comprises ministers from all 16 SADC Member States, typically drawn from portfolios responsible for Foreign Affairs, International Relations, Economic Planning, Finance or Trade. The Council meets twice annually, in March and August.
Eswatini’s participation highlights the Kingdom’s continued dedication to advancing regional integration and contributing to shared prosperity across Southern Africa.
(Courtesy Pic)
