The SADC International Consultative Conference on Poverty and Development is a highlevel, multi-stakeholder dialogue at ministerial level and involving senior business and civil society leaders from the region to engage in policy dialogue, forge consensus, and review progress of the SADC economic integration agenda, with emphasis on poverty eradication.
The theme of the conference is “Regional Economic Integration: A Strategy for Poverty Eradication towards Sustainable Development” and discussions will focus on strategies, commitments and resources needed to accelerate SADC's economic targets to facilitate implementation of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). [read more]
INFORMAL CROSS Border Trade (ICBT) is a key livelihood in southern Africa and many people are making a decent living from this type of business, according to a recent survey done in six SADC Member States.
ICBT, largely driven by Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), is often perceived as not only economically non-viable but also as socially undesirable.
The study reveals that small-scale cross border trade, commonly referred to as ICBT, has become a profitable enterprise for many citizens to the extent that some have elected to leave formal employment to concentrate on their operations. [read more]
WHILE THE international spotlight has focused on Zimbabwe, its neighbours in Botswana quietly changed their President almost unnoticed, in a planned transition through an election in Parliament.
Festus Mogae, who has been president for the past 10 years, resigned on 31 March, handing over to the former vice-president, Ian Khama, who is the eldest son of the late founding President and father of the nation, Seretse Khama.
Ian Khama has been vicepresident
for the past decade,
and chairperson of the ruling
Botswana Democratic Party
(BDP) since 2003. He is a graduate
of Sandhurst, the officer
training college in Britain, and
was previously commander of
the Botswana Defence Force
(BDF).
[read more]