Revitalised SADC determined to "cut the talk and walk the walk"
SADC 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.

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.