14 Aug 2022

Vice President Slumber Tsogwane will attend the 42nd SADC summit  slated for Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo August 17-18.

According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs media release, Mr Tsogwane will be standing in for President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.

To be held under the theme; Promoting industrialisation through agro-processing, mineral beneficiation and regional value chains for inclusive and resilient economic growth, the summit will review progress on the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), says the release.

It says the summit will also review efforts being undertaken to realise SADC’s vision 2050.

“In this regard, the summit will deliberate on a number of issues addressed under the RISDP 2020-2030 including infrastructure development, , climate change, peace, security and good governance as well as gender development,” says the release.

One of the major items on the summit’s agenda is changing of the guard which will see President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi handing over the cloc’s chairmanship to DRC’s  Mr Felix Tshisekedi.

President Dr Hage Geingob of Namibia will take over from South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa as SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation chairperson.

The summit will be preceded by a council of ministers meeting as well as an organ troika summit.

Mr Tsogwane will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Lemogang Kwape, Minster of Defence and Security, Mr Kagiso Mmusi and Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mmusi Kgafela as well as other senior government officials. Ends