KEY POINTS
- SADC leaders must improve cross-border infrastructure for regional integration.
- Strengthening partnerships will drive sustainable transport and ICT development.
- Climate change challenges require urgent action for economic resilience.
A top SADC official stated on Monday that in order to promote regional integration and economic development, member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) should fortify cross-border infrastructure.
SADC nations urged to enhance cross-border infrastructure for integration
Angele Makombo N’tumba, SADC deputy executive secretary for regional integration, stated that member states should improve meteorological cooperation and encourage the development of transport and ICT infrastructure during the SADC ministerial meeting on meteorology, transportation, and information and communications technology (ICT) in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital. According to her, these industries are essential to attaining both economic growth and regional integration.
In addition to mobilizing financial and technical resources, N’tumba urged SADC countries to fortify their partnerships with regional and global stakeholders and strive toward harmonizing policies that support sustainable transportation, climate resilience, ICT infrastructure, and economic development.
Climate change challenges threaten regional stability and development
According to New Zimababwe, she pointed out that extreme weather events, rising temperatures, altered rainfall patterns, and protracted droughts are only a few of the significant climate change-related issues facing the SADC region, endangering sustainable development and socioeconomic stability.
In order to guarantee the prompt and efficient transportation of goods and services moving into and throughout the SADC area, N’tumba stated that “having good roads, an efficient railway system, border posts, good seaports and shipping services, and efficient aviation systems is vital.”
The goal of the five-day gathering is to assess how well the three sectors’ programs are being implemented in order to foster regional integration.
Angola, Botswana, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe are among the 16 countries that make up the SADC. Â
