Communiqué

Extra Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government held at Lozitha Palace (Mandvulo), Swaziland on March 18th, 2017

1. The Extra Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was held at Lozitha, Royal Palace, in the Kingdom of Swaziland on 18th March 2017.

2. Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government and or their representatives:

• Swaziland: H.M. King Mswati III
• South Africa: H.E. President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
• Zimbabwe: H.E. President Robert Gabriel Mugabe
• Madagascar: H.E. President Hery Rajaonarimampianina
• Namibia: H.E President Hage Geingob
• Zambia: H.E. President Edgar Chagwa Lungu
• United Republic of Tanzania: H.E. Vice President Samia Suluhu Hassan
• Rep. of Congo: H.E. Prime Minister, Samy Badibanga Ntita
• Mozambique: The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Carlos Agostinho do Rosário
• Lesotho: Hon. Deputy Prime Minister, Mothetjoa Metsing
• Angola: Hon. General João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, Minister of Defence
• Botswana: Hon. Pelonomi Venson Moitoi, Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation
• Malawi: Hon. Francis Kasaila, Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Seychelles: H.E. Ambassador Barry Faure, Department of Foreign Affairs
• Mauritius: Mr. M.D. Phokeer, Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

3. Summit was also attended by H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, SADC Executive Secretary.

4. His Majesty, King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Swaziland, Chairperson and host of the Extra Ordinary Summit welcomed the SADC Heads of State and Government and other delegates to the Kingdom of Swaziland.

5. Summit noted and commended CENCO for the renewed mediation efforts, and urged the DRC stakeholders to finalize the Specific Arrangements for the Implementation of the 31 December 2016 Political Agreement, in particular, the nomination of the Chairperson of the National Monitoring Committee, and encouraged the opposition to expeditiously submit the nominees for the position of the Prime Minister.

6. Summit called upon the International Community to support the DRC in the electoral processes that are expected to facilitate peaceful and successful elections.

7. Summit received the report of the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration and approved the Costed Action Plan for pdf SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063 (2.34 MB) . In approving the Action Plan, the Summit underscored high impact activities, effective monitoring and reporting and the role of the private sector as a key player in the implementation of the SADC industrialization agenda.

8. Summit noted progress made on the preparations for the establishment of the SADC University of Transformation; and directed the relevant SADC structures to finalize its implementation and to report back to Summit in August 2017.

9. Summit approved the resolutions of the Strategic Ministerial Retreat on the Regional Integration, which was held on 12th-14th March 2017 under the theme: “The SADC we want”. The Retreat was to take stock of what SADC has achieved since its establishment in 1980, the challenges it was facing and what needed to be done to accelerate the pace and level of the SADC integration agenda. In this regard, the Summit noted the recommendations of the Ministerial Retreat and directed the Secretariat to develop an implementation plan and roadmap of the Conclusions of the Strategic Ministerial Retreat for its consideration in August 2017.

10. Summit noted progress on the operationalization of the 36th SADC Summit Theme, and urged Ministers of Finance and Investment supported by the Secretariat to finalize the SADC Resource Mobilization Framework and submit it for consideration in August 2017.

11. Summit endorsed the convening of a High-Level Ministerial Workshop and Regional Investors Conference on Regional Energy Projects to showcase investment opportunities in the energy sector, focusing on specific flagship projects; and directed the Secretariat to report progress on the activities under the three main aspects of the 36th Summit Theme, at its next meeting in August 2017.

12. Summit received and considered the reports of the Facilitator and the Chairperson of the Oversight Committee to the Kingdom of Lesotho. While noting with concern the changed political dynamics that have necessitated the holding of snap elections, Summit urged the Kingdom of Lesotho to address the fundamental challenges and bring about political stability.

13. Summit mandated the Facilitator and the Oversight Committee to closely monitor the political and security situation in the Kingdom of Lesotho during the election period.

14. Summit mandated the Facilitator supported by the Oversight Committee to conduct a multi-stakeholder national dialogue before the elections set for 3rd June 2017 with the aim of building consensus and trust among all stakeholders and charting the way forward for the implementation of SADC Decisions.

15. Summit endorsed the convening of a Double Troika Summit soon after the new Government is formed after the elections on 3rd June 2017, to engage the new Government of Lesotho on the need to implement the SADC Decisions and the recommendations of the SADC Commission of Inquiry through a roadmap with clear timelines. The engagement should also emphasise the need to address the fundamental challenges, commitment to implement SADC Decisions and the consequences of not implementing the decisions and observing timelines.

16. Summit commended the SADC Facilitator for his continued support in assisting the Kingdom of Lesotho to achieve a lasting peace and political stability, and the Oversight Committee for its diligence and professionalism.

17. Summit urged all parties to the Disarmament, Demobilization, Repatriation Reintegration, and Resettlement (DDRRR) programme to re-initiate it urgently to address the needs of those in the refugee camps and the surrender of elements that are still in combat.

18. Summit noted that the mandate of MONUSCO-FIB, expires on 31 March 2017 and urged for the renewal to be aligned with Chapter VII of the UN Charter on peace enforcement so as to enable MONUSCO-FIB to deliver effectively, and to provide for the necessary means and capabilities to address the threat of the negative forces and the asymmetrical warfare that has emerged.

19. Summit commended the President of the DRC, H.E. Joseph Kabila Kabange, the Government of the DRC, CENCO, political parties and other stakeholders for the continued efforts in addressing the political and security challenges.

20. Summit commended Member States who supported Member States that suffered from the effects of the 2015/16 El-Nino induced disaster; and International Cooperating Partners and the Private Sector for the humanitarian assistance provided to support the Region.

21. On the Outbreak of the Fall Armyworm in the SADC Region, Summit agreed to improve coordination and collaboration efforts to promote a harmonised approach in the management of the Fall Armyworm; and to mobilise resources to implement management and control strategies for Fall Armyworm and other plant and livestock pests including the Tuta Absoluta pest.

22. Summit reaffirmed its solidarity and SADC’s responsibility to alleviate the suffering of the people following the effects of Cyclones Dineo and Enawo which resulted in flooding, and other disasters; and encouraged all SADC Member States to consider providing humanitarian relief support to the affected Member States. In this regard, Summit directed the Secretariat with support from Member States to urgently finalize and operationalize the regional disaster preparedness and response mechanisms; and operationalization of the Regional Disaster Preparedness and Response Fund.

23. Summit commended the Executive Secretary Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax and the Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Dr. Thembinkosi Mhlongo for their outstanding performance and approved extension of their contracts for another term of four (4) years.

24. Summit noted that H.E. President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos of the Republic of Angola is retiring from the Presidency, and the ruling party has nominated Hon. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, the current Minister of Defence of the Republic of Angola as Presidential candidate for the August 2017 general elections.

25. Summit commended his H.E. President Dos Santos for his contribution in furthering the SADC political and economic agenda, and to the socioeconomic development of Angola, and wished him well in his retirement.

26. The Extra Ordinary Summit was officially closed by SADC Chairperson, His Majesty, King Mswati III of Swaziland, who thanked all the Heads of State and Government for attending the Extra-Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of States and Government.

27. The SADC Heads of State and Government expressed their gratitude for the invitation by His Majesty, King Mswati III.

28. Summit expressed its appreciation to the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Swaziland for hosting the Extra Ordinary Summit and for the warm hospitality extended to all the delegates.