revitalised SADC determined to "cut the talk and walk the walk"
LSADC is shrugging off the “talk shop” tag often associated with i n t e rgovernmental bodies, increasingly adopting a new business culture that is results oriented. Gone are the days when the success of meetings of its leaders was based on how many protocols have been tabled for signature.

Leaders adopt electoral guidelines
Southern African leaders unanimously adopted the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections during the Summit held in Grand Baie, Mauritius, in August.

SADC restructuring: Progress to date
While commending the significant progress achieved on restructuring within SADC, leaders attending the Mauritius summit in August said they would want the process to move a gear up so that the agreed structures can deal more e ffectively with the challenges at hand.

Economies trail international poverty targets
The majority of SADC economies have continued with their trend of positive economic growth albeit at levels that are insufficient to progressively reduce poverty.

Southern Africa taking steps to avert energy crisis
The launch of a major regional e n e r g y p r o j e c t i n t h e Democratic Republic of Congo is one of many initiatives to ensure sustainable supply of energy in the SADC region.

Will SADC member states meet the 2005 gender goals?
Will SADC member states meet the benchmarks to gauge the region’s commitment to reduce gender imbalances and improve the welfare and human rights of women set for the year 2005?

Women’s economic empowerment vital for regional cooperation
The New Partnership for A f r i c a ’s De v e l o pme n t (NEPAD) presents the region with opportunities based on synerg i e s that exist within the region’s own blueprint, according to a high level meeting on NEPAD convened by SADC Council of Ministers in Mauritius in August.

Excerpts of the 2004 SADC summit final communique
… In his address to the opening session of the Summit, the outgoing SADC Chairperson, H.E. Benjamin William Mkapa, President of the United Republic of Tanzania outlined the major achievements of his tenure of office such as the launch of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), the adoption of the Declaration and Plan of Action on Agriculture and Food Security, the establishment of an HIVand AIDS Unit at the Secretariat as well as the initiation of the process of establishing the SADC HIV and AIDS Trust Fund.

SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections
SADC region has made significant strides in the consolidation of the citizens’ participation in the decisionmaking processes and consolidation of democratic practice and institutions. The Constitutions of all SADC Member States enshrine the principles of equal opportunities and full participation of the citizens in the political process.

‘Water is important for economic and social development as well as peace and prosperity. What should SADC do to promote the effective utilisation of water resources in the region?’
Sanitation brings clean drinking water to people. Human lives should not be at risk because of drinking or using water. Water should minister life – not death… Through economic development, water plays a major role. Through initiatives to try alleviating poverty, bringing or making water accessible to everybody, jobs are created. Where water projects are embarked upon, many local people are relieved from being jobless, for example, with [dam] projects…

SADC at the Olympics
Despite collecting only a few meda l s a t the A t h e n s Olympics, athletes from the region and the continent showed that they have potential to excel with more resources and better preparations.

Four scoop SADC media awards
Winners of the 2004 SADC Media Awards were presented with their prizes in four categories, of photo journalism, radio, print and television, during the opening session of the summit on 17 August.

SADC ANTHEM
The SADC anthem melody was approved by Summit in Mauritius and member states are expected to play it at all major SADC events, at SADC Day and SADC Creators Day commemorations

Botswana elections set for 30 October
President Festus Mogae has announced 30 October as the date for Botswana's general election.

Statistics committee to harmonise regional indicators
Aregional committee, the SADC Statistics Committee of Southern Africa has set sight on building regionally acceptable economic indicators.

SADC-backed candidate wins WHO job
Luis Gomes Sambo of Angola, whose candidature was endorsed by SADC leaders at the last summit in Mauritius, has been nominated to become the World Health Organisation (WHO) regional director for Africa.

Namibian oyster industry suffers
South Africa’s decision to invoke a six-year rule requiring exporters and importers of live animal products to get permits has left the Namibian oyster industry at a virtual standstill.

Call to strengthen UN Mission in the DRC
Urgent action is needed to avert a collapse of the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and possible emergence of war there, an international pressure group has warned.

Recent Publications and Acquisitions

SADC Diary

Currency Checklist

Public Holidays in SADC