ANTANANARIVO, MADAGASCAR – The Southern African Development Community (SADC) outlined four key programmes to drive economic and social development across the region at its 45th Ordinary Summit, attended by His Majesty King Mswati III today.
SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi detailed plans focusing on industrialisation, agricultural transformation, energy security, and intra-regional trade. The summit theme, “Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development Towards an Industrialised SADC”, reflected ambitions that align closely with Eswatini’s development goals.
Magosi said industrialisation will create jobs and opportunities, particularly for women and youth, through investments in modern technologies and skills development in sectors such as agriculture. For Eswatini, this supports efforts to diversify the economy beyond sugar exports and strengthen small and medium enterprises.
Agriculture remains a priority, contributing 30 percent of SADC’s GDP and supporting 62 percent of the population. Magosi noted that in 2024, 60 million people in the region faced food shortages. He said climate-smart agriculture and agro-processing will enhance food security and create employment, objectives Eswatini is pursuing through its agricultural modernisation programmes.
Energy access also requires urgent attention. Despite abundant renewable resources, only 56 percent of the SADC population had electricity in 2024, below the 2030 target of 85 percent. The $50 billion pledge from the 2025 Africa Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, was cited as a boost for expanding affordable and sustainable energy, benefiting Eswatini’s ongoing renewable projects.
Intra-regional trade remains low at 20 percent. Magosi called for the removal of trade barriers and the establishment of one-stop border posts to ease movement of goods and people. Eswatini, as a signatory to the SADC Regional Development Fund, is expected to gain from these initiatives.
The SADC Regional Development Fund will support security and infrastructure projects in two phases: an initial four to five years to mobilise resources and a later expansion phase to scale up operations. Nine member states, including Eswatini, have signed the agreement, while South Africa is nearing ratification.
Magosi addressed regional security, citing challenges in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique. He noted the integration of the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes into a single framework on August 15, 2025, as a key step toward stability. He paid tribute to SADC personnel who lost their lives in peacekeeping missions and reflected on departed leaders, including His Royal Highness Prince Mabandla of Eswatini, Dr. Hage Geingob of Namibia, and David Mabuza of South Africa.
Quoting SADC founder Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, Magosi said unity remains central to tackling global challenges, from climate disasters to unemployment, as the region works toward becoming industrialised and self-reliant by 2050.
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