The 15-member bloc met this weekend to discuss matters affecting the region. All the leaders that form Southern African Development Community (SADC) agreed to continue monitoring the political situation in the DRC.
SADC also pledged to assist Lesotho as it herds to an early election in June. Elections in that country were brought forward following a motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister.
The leaders also adopted an action Plan on Industrialization; with infrastructure development is at the top of the list.
“Infrastructure is one of the sectors that we believe we need to pay attention to because of the infrastructure is not there, you can’t grow the economy. We’ve got to grow the economy. We’re therefore identifying specific areas that will need infrastructure and of course the very fact that we’re a region that is working together, we need to have infrastructure to facilitate that intra trade.” said President Jacob Zuma, South Africa
A Ministerial task force that was appointed to look into the economic integration in the SADC region presented its report.
“They put out a very good report but which still needs to be properly finalized but we are happy with the report. Firstly the fact that we’ve all agreed, we have the same mind and want to see trade expanding among the countries of the region. So it’s a question of those who’re working to put the plan completely at the end but otherwise progress has been made in that direction.” said President Jacob Zuma, South Africa
SADC leaders agreed to defer to August, a request by Burundi and Comoros to join the SADC family. South Africa will assume the chair of SADC later this year.
