1. The 41st Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was held on the 18th August 2021, in Lilongwe, the capital city of the Republic of Malawi.

2. Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government and/or their representatives:

• Botswana: H.E. President Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi

• DRC H.E. President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo

• Madagascar: H.E. President Andry Nirina Rajoelina

• Malawi: H.E. President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera

• Mozambique: H.E President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi

• South Africa: H.E. President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa

• United Republic of Tanzania: H.E. President Samia Suluhu Hassan

• Zimbabwe: H.E. President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa

• Namibia: H.E. Vice President Dr Nangolo Mbumba

• Eswatini: H.E. the Right Hon. Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini

• Lesotho: Hon Mathibeli Mokhothu, Deputy Prime Minister

• Angola: Hon. Ambassador Tete Antonio, Minister of External Relations of Angola

• Comoros Hon. Dhoihir Dhoulkamal, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

• Zambia: H.E. Mwansa Kapeya, Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia to the Republic of Botswana and SADC

3. H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, SADC Executive Secretary was also in attendance. H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union and H.E Dr. Vera Songwe, Chief Executive of UNECA delivered pre-recorded remarks to the Summit.

4. Summit elected H.E Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi, as Chairperson of SADC, and H.E. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo as Incoming Chairperson of SADC.

5. Summit also elected H.E. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, as Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and H.E. Dr. Hage G. Geingob, President of the Republic Namibia as Incoming Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

6. Summit commended the people and the Government of the Republic of Zambia, for conducting successful elections, and congratulated H.E. Hakainde Hichilema for winning the elections.

7. Summit thanked H.E. Edgar Chagwa Lungu for his leadership and contribution to SADC development and integration during his tenure as President of Zambia and for nobly accepting the results of the 2021 Presidential elections in the Republic of Zambia.

8. Summit received a report of the Outgoing Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, H.E. Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, and commended him for his outstanding leadership and continued efforts to address peace and security threats during the year, notwithstanding challenges posed by COVID-19.

9. Summit endorsed an Action Plan for the implementation of Security Threats Report, and urged Member States to implement interventions contained in the Plan.

10. Summit received a progress report from the SADC Facilitator to the Kingdom of Lesotho, H.E. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa on the implementation of SADC decisions in the Kingdom of Lesotho, and commended the Kingdom of Lesotho for progress made in implementing SADC decisions and the ongoing reforms.

11. Summit also urged the Kingdom of Lesotho to expedite completion of the ongoing reforms, and to continue with peace, transitional justice and reconciliation process to engender national unity, and bring about national healing and cohesion.

12. Summit recommended an extension of the mandate of the National Reform Authority for a period of six months, from 30th October 2021 to 30th April 2022.

13. Summit commended the SADC Facilitator to the Kingdom of Lesotho H.E. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, for his dedication and continued facilitation, and extended his mandate as the SADC Facilitator until the 42nd Summit of Heads of State and Government.

14. Summit received updates on the Security Situation in Cabo Delgado Province, in Northern part of the Republic of Mozambique, and commended SADC Member States for pledging personnel and providing financial support towards the deployment of SADC Standby Force to Mozambique.

15. Summit commended the United Republic of Tanzania for offering to host the Regional Counter Terrorism Centre, which will offer dedicated and strategic advisory services to the Region on terrorism threats.

16. Summit received reports on the socio-economic overview in the region, regional food and nutrition security, gender and development, HIV-AIDS, and on the implementation of the 40th Summit Theme, “SADC 40 Years Building Peace and Security, and Promoting Development and Resilience in the Face of Global Challenges” and commended the Outgoing Chairperson of SADC, H.E Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique, for his exemplary leadership during his tenure.

17. Summit reaffirmed SADC’s position that the creation of the SADC Central Bank and Monetary Union, as a long-term objective to be premised on fulfilling pre-conditions that include, the harmonisation of the fiscal and monetary policies of SADC countries, and greater convergence of banking systems. In this regard, the African Monetary Institute and the African Central Bank should, be long-term objectives.

18. Summit expressed concern and objected to the unilateral decision taken by the African Union Commission to grant the State of Israel Observer Status to the African Union.

19. Summit endorsed “Bolstering Productive Capacities in the Face of COVID 19 Pandemic for Inclusive, Sustainable Economic and Industrial Transformation” as a theme of the 41th Summit. The Theme takes forward the implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063, with a special focus on enhancing regional productive capacities.

20. Summit approved the transformation of the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a SADC Parliament as a consultative and a deliberative body.

21. Summit approved the Protocol on Statistics and an Agreement Amending the SADC Protocol on Energy.

22. Summit noted that an Agreement Amending the SADC Protocol on the Control of Firearms, Ammunition and Other Related Materials; and an Agreement Regarding the Status of SADC Standby Force and its Components Deployed within the Region for Purposes of Training, Peace Support Operation, Exercises and Humanitarian Assistance were going to be signed by Member States who were ready to do so.

23. Summit expressed concern on the implications of the Post-Cotonou Agreement and the Neighbourhood Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) in terms of potential risks to fragment ACP countries; weaken Regional Economic Communities, shift agenda setting powers from Member States to other Parties, and directed the SADC Secretariat to submit SADC’s preliminary concerns to the European Union Commission.

24. Summit reiterated its call on the unconditional removal of sanctions imposed on the Republic of Zimbabwe, and support Zimbabwe in the ongoing socio-economic strengthening efforts.

25. Summit approved the appointment of Mr Elias Mpedi Magosi as the new Executive Secretary of SADC.

26. Summit commended the Outgoing SADC Executive Secretary, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, for having served the Organization professionally, diligently, and with high level of competence.

27. Summit extended its appreciation to the Government and people of Malawi for a successful 41st Summit.

28. The Chairperson of SADC, H.E. Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, President of the Republic of Malawi expressed gratitude to all the Heads of State and Government for attending the 41st Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government.

29. Summit noted that the next Summit will take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo in August 2022.

Source: Government of South Africa