Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders gathered at the Durban International Convention Centre in KwaZulu-Natal on Monday, August 17, for the 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The summit also saw President Cyril Ramaphosa formally take over as Chairperson of SADC from Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who completed his term leading the regional bloc. The Summit elected Ramaphosa to lead SADC for the 2026/27 term.
Ramaphosa had previously served as interim Chairperson after South Africa was appointed to take over the role in November 2025 following Madagascar’s decision to relinquish the chairmanship.
The 46th Summit was held under the theme: “Resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World.”
In his opening address, Ramaphosa acknowledged and thanked Mnangagwa for his leadership during his tenure as SADC Chairperson.
The summit programme included SADC Industrialisation Week, meetings of senior officials and the Council of Ministers, as well as a public lecture focused on the future of regional integration and development.
Ramaphosa said the summit provided an opportunity for member states to review progress in implementing the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan and advancing SADC Vision 2050.
“During this Summit, we reviewed progress in implementing the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan and advancing SADC Vision 2050.
“We considered the peace and security situation in our region, including developments in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, northern Mozambique and Madagascar.
“We reaffirmed our commitment to peaceful solutions, dialogue, constitutionalism and the resolution of conflict through regional and multilateral cooperation.
“We advanced discussions on trade, infrastructure, energy, industrialisation and regional value chains.
“Above all, we reaffirmed that the ultimate measure of regional integration must be the improvement it brings to the lives of the people of Southern Africa,” said Ramaphosa.
For Mnangagwa, the end of Zimbabwe’s chairpersonship does not change the country’s commitment to regional integration.
“We look forward to fruitful deliberations that unlock the full potential of our shared infrastructure, agriculture, and vast mineral wealth,” he said.
“Together, we are building a stronger, self-sustaining SADC ecosystem that leaves no one and no place behind,” Mnangagwa added.
Ramaphosa will now lead SADC for the 2026/27 term, with the next Ordinary Summit scheduled to take place in Zambia.
