Madagascar on Tuesday officially took over leadership of the committee of senior officials of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as the country prepares to host a regional summit later this month.
The symbolic handover of the SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials chairmanship, which took place in Antananarivo, saw Eric Ratsimbazafy, permanent secretary in Madagascar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, succeed Albert Chimbindi of Zimbabwe.
The standing committee plays a pivotal role in shaping SADC’s strategic direction by preparing policy recommendations for the Council of Ministers, which in turn advises the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government – the bloc’s highest decision-making body.
Both officials praised the region’s progress in implementing the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020–2030, a blueprint for deepening integration through industrialisation, infrastructure development and social inclusion.
The handover comes ahead of the Council of Ministers Meeting on 12 August, which will finalise the agenda for the summit scheduled for 17 August in Antananarivo.
The summit will be hosted under the theme: “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC.”
JN/APA