On August 6, 2015, SADC Secretariat and the University of Botswana (UB) co-organised a public lecture on Regional Economic Development and Integration in the SADC Region at the Library Auditorium of the University of Botswana.

The Lecture was delivered by former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Mozambique, Dr Leonardo Santos Simão and the objective was to engender public discourse on economic development and integration in the region.

Dr Simão gave an overview of the history of the organization, explained the objectives of the initiators when they decided to create a regional organization. He also explained how and why it was changed from the Southern Africa Development Coordinating Conference (SADCC) to Southern African development Community (SADC). Addressing the students in attendance he said: “I hope to be investing in our future leaders, to be good leaders”.

Dr Simão was preceded by the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Botswana Professor Otlogetswe Totolo who, when welcoming the participants, expressed the importance that the University of Botswana attaches to SADC regional integration and development agenda. He also stated the importance for the region to use the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063 to be launched during the upcoming Summit. “The region must, therefore build on this momentum and use the Strategy and Roadmap to transform our economies, to enhance economic growth, and thus create the much needed jobs to eradicate poverty”, he said.

Delivering the vote of thanks, SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Stergomena L. Tax stated. “In addition to disseminating information about SADC, the Public lectures also provide an opportunity for the public to interrogate the SADC regional integration and cooperation agenda, with the main target being intellectuals as well as students at institutions of higher learning in the hosting Member State”.

The lecture was organized in the margins of the 35th Summit of SADC Heads of States and Government that will be taking place in Gaborone from August 17-18, 2015.