International relations
Vision 2050: SADC leaders approve a new vision and implementation plan for the region
Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders have approved a new vision and implementation plan for the region.
This was done during the 40th Ordinary Session of the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government which was hosted virtually by Mozambique recently.
Prior to the summit, Minister of nternational
Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor led a South African delegation to the virtual meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers.
The SADC Council of Ministers, responsible for overseeing the functioning and development of the region and ensuring policies and decisions taken are implemented, deliberated on key issues on the region, including a status report on the development of the SADC Post-2020 Agenda, by focusing on the SADC Vision 2050 and the Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030.
The summit approved the SADC Vision 2050 and RISDP 2020-2030.
SADC Vision 2050
“The SADC Vision 2050 is based on a firm foundation of peace, security
and democratic governance and premised on three interrelated pillars, namely industrial development and market integration, infrastructure development in support of regional integration, and social and human capital development,” said a statement issued after the summit.
The RISDP 2020-2030 replaces the Revised RISDP 2015-2020 that lapsed in March 2020, said SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax.
Vision 2050 sets out the SADC's long-term aspirations over the next 30 years, while the RISDP 2020-30 outlines the proposed development trajectory until 2030. Vision 2050 seeks to: • create a conducive environment to foster regional cooperation and integration and uphold the free movement of goods, people or labour, capital and services. accelerate the mobilisation of resources from the region and external sources to fast-track the implementation of SADC policies and programmes and move away from reliance on international cooperating partners, towards a more diversified approach. improve the implementation of SADC policies and programmes, through the effective realisation of roles and responsibilities undertaken by various actors and entities through institutional reforms at the levels. strengthen compliance by member states through the implementation of effective compliance monitoring and assurance mechanisms to track progress in implementation of SADC programmes, and compliance to protocols and legal instruments. strengthen visibility and awareness programmes to trigger and maintain interest, awareness and participation of the SADC citizenry and member state officials responsible for driving the regional integration agenda.
Both the SADC Vision 2050 and RISDP 202030 envision a peaceful, middle- to high-income industrialised region, where all citizens enjoy sustainable economic well-being, justice and freedom.
The theme for the 40th Summit,‘SADC: 40 Years Building Peace and Security and Promoting Development and Resilience in the Face of Global Challenges', highlighted the need to enhance socio-economic development in an environment of peace and stability, even as adversities caused by climate change and other global challenges persist, said Mozambique's
President Filipe Nyusi in his opening address.
“The theme also calls on us to share experiences of resilience and innovation that will enable us to achieve, without fail, the objectives spelt out in the RISDP for the welfare of present and future generations,” he added.
SADC and COVID-19
The economic performance of the SADC region slowed in 2019, compared to previous years, with the average real Gross Domestic Product growth being two percent lower than an average of 2.9 percent from 2016 to 2018.
The deterioration was in line with weak commodity prices, slowdown in global economic activity and escalated global trade tensions, with the severity varying across member states.
Provisionally, annual regional inflation increased to an average of 12.1
percent in 2019, from an average of 8.2 percent in 2018. In 2020, the regional economic growth is expecting a contraction of about three percent, mainly due to the adverse impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
According to Dr Tax, the region has been operating under very difficult and challenging conditions since March 2020, due to
COVID-19.
“The socio-economic fabric of member states has been negatively impacted and brought under severe stress, requiring extraordinary measures.
“It is nonetheless gratifying that the measures and initiatives being implemented at national and regional levels are yielding positive results in the containment of the spread of COVID-19 and, at the same time, cushioning national economies from the debilitating effects of the pandemic,” he said.
Recognising the need to facilitate the movement of essential goods and services during lockdowns and state of emergencies, SADC developed Guidelines on Harmonisation and Facilitation of Cross-Border Transport Operations across the region and Regional Standard Operating Procedures for the Management and Monitoring of CrossBorder Road Transport at Designated Points of Entry and COVID-19 checkpoints.
“The guidelines were revised in June, informed by the lessons learnt from implementation, and continue to guide the SADC region to balance, realign, harmonise and coordinate COVID-19 response measures with the requirements for trade and transport facilitation and to promote safe trade and transport facilitation for economic growth and poverty alleviation in the SADC region,” said Dr Tax.
He added that until a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 is found, which might take a while, the region should remain pragmatic and vigilant by considering not only health requirements but also socioeconomic imperatives.