By Senior Editor, China Africa News
Pretoria, 13th March 2026 — Ministers from the 16 member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) wrapped up a pivotal Council of Ministers meeting today in Pretoria, addressing urgent regional priorities including industrialization, food security, and energy transition. The two-day gathering, hosted at the DIRCO Conference Centre, marked a critical checkpoint in efforts to strengthen regional economic integration and resilience across Southern Africa.
“Today, we have made significant strides in aligning our industrial and agricultural strategies to serve the people of Southern Africa more effectively”
Said Ronald Lamola, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation and Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers. “Our focus remains on sustainable growth, energy security, and ensuring that no country or community is left behind.”
Over the course of the meeting, ministers reviewed progress on implementing decisions from previous SADC summits and examined the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015–2063). Discussions also centered on strengthening food and nutrition security, scaling up energy transition projects, and improving regional infrastructure to boost trade and connectivity.
According to Elias Magosi, SADC Executive Secretary, “Our collective approach to regional integration is key to overcoming the economic and environmental challenges facing Southern Africa. The Council has emphasized coordinated action on agriculture, energy, and disaster management to ensure resilience across all member states.”
The Council meeting was preceded by a series of preparatory sessions, including expert and senior officials’ meetings, which helped set the agenda and identify priority areas such as industrial development, cross-border infrastructure, and sustainable energy initiatives. These sessions provided ministers with detailed proposals and options for collaborative policy implementation.
Ministers also highlighted the importance of cooperation with external partners, including ongoing regional engagements with China and the African Development Bank, to accelerate renewable energy deployment and industrial capacity building. “We are determined to leverage strategic partnerships to unlock the full potential of our economies while remaining true to our developmental priorities,” said Mulambo Haimbe, Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.
While official communiqués are yet to be released, analysts suggest the Council’s outcomes will influence policy decisions for the SADC Heads of State Summit later this year, particularly in areas of regional integration, energy policy, and food security strategies.
With the meeting concluded, SADC ministers leave Pretoria with a renewed mandate to continue steering the region toward sustainable economic growth, resilient infrastructure, and social development, ensuring that the collective vision of a more integrated and prosperous Southern Africa continues to move forward.
