Ronald Lamola Joins SADC Council of Ministers Ahead of Key Regional Summit

The meeting, which begins today, will continue until Wednesday, serving as a precursor to the 44th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola is currently in Harare, Zimbabwe, participating in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers meeting. The council, which oversees SADC's operations and policy implementation, includes ministers from member states, typically from Foreign Affairs, Economic Planning, or Finance. The meeting, which begins today, will continue until Wednesday, serving as a precursor to the 44th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government.

The summit, scheduled to take place under the theme "Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development Towards an Industrialised SADC," will focus on advancing the region's economic growth and integration. Additionally, the SADC Organ Troika Summit will be held on August 16, 2024, providing a platform for leaders to evaluate progress on the Regional Strategic Indicative Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030 and address regional peace and security issues.

Zimbabwe will assume the chairpersonship of SADC during this summit, succeeding Angola, which has led the organization since the previous summit in Luanda in August 2023.