Verónica Macamo to preside over SADC Council of Ministers meeting

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Verónica Macamo to preside over SADC Council of Ministers meeting

6:14 CAT | 11 Mar 2021

File photo: O País

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Verónica Nataniel Macamo,will, on Friday, March 12, preside over a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Community for the Development of Southern Africa (SADC), Noticias reports.

The event will be held in virtual format, due to the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, a press release received by ‘Noticias’ indicates.

On the conference agenda are matters related to the regional organisation’s financial situation, the Covid-19 pandemic, the management and response to the risk of disasters, maritime security, and the transformation of the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a parliament.

At the meeting, Minister Macamo will reiterate Mozambique’s commitment to the regional integration process, to contributing to the region’s efforts to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and to political stability, peace and security.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation will be accompanied by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Adriano Maleiane, and the Minister of Land and Environment, Ivete Maibase.

The meeting is preceded, from March 8 to 11, by a session of the ongoing meeting of the Standing Committee of Senior Officials.

SADC to hold virtual Council of Ministers Meeting on 12 March, 2021

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will on 12 March, 2021 hold a virtual meeting of the Council of Ministers to discuss issues aimed at advancing regional cooperation, integration and socio-economic development.

Honourable Veronica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of Mozambique will preside over the meeting in her capacity as the Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers and will be supported by the SADC Executive Secretary, Her Excellency Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax.

The Council of Ministers meeting will, among other issues, discuss

the Implementation Plan of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020-30),

the COVID-19 situation in the region,

progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS,

progress in the implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015-2063),

regional Disaster Risk Management and Response,

proposal to transform the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a Parliament and

the status of the signing and ratification of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement (TFTA).

The Council of Ministers is an institution spelt out in Article 11 of the SADC Treaty and is responsible for, among others, overseeing the functioning and development of SADC, approving policies, strategies and programmes of SADC as well as advising the Summit of Heads of State and Government on matters of overall policy. The Council consists of Ministers from each of the 16 Member States; usually from the Ministries responsible for Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Economic Planning or Finance.

The Programme of the meeting is as follows:

Friday, 12 March, 2021

09.10 – 09.20 Introductory remarks by Her Excellency, Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, SADC Executive Secretary

09.20 – 09.40 Opening Remarks by Hon. Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Republic of Mozambique and Chairperson of SADC Council of Ministers

09.40 – 16.00 Council of Ministers Meeting in Closed Session

The outcomes of the Council of Ministers meeting will be shared with the media after the meeting.

Today, #SADC Senior officials met virtually to review documents ahead of #SADC Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for 12th March 2021. Council will among others, review policies, strategies and programmes aimed at advancing regional cooperation & integration agenda. @DrTax pic.twitter.com/LusYwZQIhk

— SADC Secretariat (@SADC_News) March 8, 2021