MBABANE – Representatives from the Kingdom of Eswatini joined other Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states in a two-day meeting held from 12 to 13 June 2025 to discuss the future of technology across the region.
The SADC Corporate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Committee met to review regional policies and programmes that support digital transformation, regional integration, and institutional resilience.
The meeting, attended by representatives from Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, and Madagascar, focused on aligning the SADC Secretariat’s digital strategy with broader regional development goals. Officials discussed ways to improve ICT governance, address cyber threats, and strengthen digital trust across member states.
Dr. Judith Kateera, Deputy Executive Secretary for Corporate Affairs, said SADC finds itself at a turning point where digital technologies are reshaping economies and governance systems. She urged the region to move swiftly to adopt new technologies while managing associated risks.
Committee Chairperson Stephen Mjuweni, who also serves as Malawi’s Principal Secretary for e-Government, raised concerns over the Secretariat’s current infrastructure and called for better systems to ensure efficiency across all departments.
Key issues on the agenda included cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data governance, and ICT resilience, as well as how to mobilise resources for digital initiatives.
The committee is expected to present its recommendations to the SADC Council of Ministers when it meets in August in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
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