Zimbabwe: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade announced the visit of the SADC Preparatory Mission in Zimbabwe from 20 to 24 February 2024. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is led by the Deputy Executive Secretary of Corporate Affairs – Dr Judith Kateera.
Reportedly, the Preparatory Mission is a technical team that will engage the country in preparations for hosting the 44th SADC Summit.
As per the sources, the team will also provide Zimbabwe with the guidelines based on SADC minimum standards related to the obligations for hosting the Summit.
Moreover, Zimbabwe will be provided with the opportunity to present reports on the state of preparedness towards hosting the Summit in Harare in August 2024.
The hosting of the 44th Summit is announced by the spokesperson M C Mukura of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on Monday, Feb 19, 2024.
Since its inception in 1980, SADC has extended a platform to be featured as a partner in the journey towards regional development and prosperity. Over US $13,000 will be spent for its publication.
The SADC Summit is anticipated to be observed from August 17 to 18, 2024. The President of Zimbabwe – Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa will manage the summit and will take over the chairmanship of the regional body from his Angolan counterpart, President – Joao Lourenco, in the year 2024.
Considering this the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ambassador – Rofina Chikava said that a virtual meeting was organised last week with the SADC secretariat to discuss various relatable issues.
Rofina Chikava underlined that Zimbabwe will assume the Chairmanship of SADC in August 2024 and have been elected in August 2023, in Luanda, Angola.
She mentioned that as a part of the preparations for the Chairmanship, the SADC Secretariat told its expectations from the Government of Zimbabwe.
Following the meeting, it highlighted the issues such as:
- Minimum standards for hosting SADC meetings
- Administrative and logistical arrangements for hosting the Summit of SADC
- Branding and publicity issues when hosting SADC meetings
- ICT Requirements
- Themes of the Summit
- SADC industrialization week, etc.
Ambassador Chikava admitted that the meeting was very insightful.