President Mnangagwa’s Vision for SADC Industrialisation
Addressing the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit in Harare today, President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe committed to driving sustainable economic growth and development across the SADC region. As the incoming Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) assumed his tenure, he promises to prioritise innovation, climate resilience, energy infrastructure, technological advancements and regional integration.
Under Mnangagwa’s leadership, citizens of the SADC region can expect a concerted effort to promote innovation by establishing innovation hubs and strengthening linkages among academia, scientists, and innovators to drive technological advancements. The focus will also be on enhancing climate resilience by scaling up investments in agriculture and operationalizing the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Centre.
The President stressed the importance of expanding energy infrastructure, particularly renewable energy sources, to support the region’s industrialization goals. He pointed to Zimbabwe’s efforts in promoting green energy, such as the Geo-Pomona Waste Management Plant, as examples to follow. Mnangagwa called for concrete actions to implement the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap (2015-2063). He urged stakeholders to enhance synergies through public-private engagement platforms and business exchanges.
President Mnangagwa encouraged the embracing of new ideas, technologies, and practices which is necessary for innovation in transforming SADC’s economies by encouraging wealth creation, enhance productivity, and improve living standards across the continent.
He also highlighted the need to harness human capital and value addition to natural endowments. , adding value to the region’s rich natural resources. “The time is now to realize maximum value from our God-given rich natural endowments,” he declared.
Acknowledging the adverse impacts of climate-induced natural disasters, Mnangagwa called for scaling up investments in transformative agriculture and robust climate mitigation strategies. “We must strive to be a region capable of feeding ourselves,” he emphasized.
President Mnangagwa’s address set a bold and ambitious agenda for his tenure as SADC Chairman. His vision, grounded in innovation, resilience, and unity, aims to propel the region towards a more prosperous and integrated future. As he concluded, “Long live SADC unity, solidarity, independence, and freedom. Long live African unity.”
