BY STEVE MALOYA
President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, who is the current chairperson for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has promised to make the bloc a stronger and more united one in order for the member states to prosper together.
Addressing members at the SADC’s headquarters in Gaborone, Botswana on Monday, Chakwera said during his reign as the chairperson of the bloc, he will be committed to increasing regional integration and development.
“For my part, I pledge to support and work with you closely in addressing any institutional and political obstacles in the path of our journey towards economic integration. I pledge to push for the implementation of the RISDP 2020-30. I pledge to rally support for our economic integration agenda from our International Cooperating Partners.
“I pledge to lend my voice to the cause of diversifying our funding sources and explore
Collaboration opportunities with non-traditional partners. And finally, I pledge to promote our regional cohesion among Africa’s emerging young leaders so that
the next generation of hands into which we must pass on the baton of economic integration efforts are prepared,” said Chakwera.
The Malawi leader appealed to his counterparts that for the SADC’s vision of to thrive, all the 16 member states have a role to work together and unite in fighting the common enemies of terrorism, climate change, the current pandemic of Covid-19 and many others.
Chakwera, who was appointed chairperson for SADC in August this year, left on Monday for a three working day visit in Gaborone, Botswana, where he went to appreciate the progress of work at its headquarters.
He is returning tomorrow, Wednesday.
