Chakwera in DRC to hand over Sadc mantle

President Lazarus Chakwera yesterday arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the 42nd Ordinary Summit of Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Heads of State and Government Summit where he will hand over the bloc’s chairmanship.

The State House Press Office said in a media brief released after the President’s arrival in Kinshasa that he was welcomed on arrival by DRC Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde Kyenge.

Chakwera, who will hand over the rotational chairmanship to DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, said before departure at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe that his one year at the helm of Sadc was “a great challenge and a learning period for Malawi as a nation”.

In a speech monitored on State broadcaster MBC TV, he said since taking over the regional bloc’s chairmanship last August, Malawi was privileged to chair Sadc high-level meetings.

Chakwera said the meetings gave Malawi an opportunity to showcase its abilities in various sectors.

He said: “Through different meetings on industrialisation, disaster and climate change, labour and education, my ministers were able to share what Malawi is doing by sharing ways on how to advance these issues in the region.”

Chakwera took over the Sadc chairmanship from Mozambique President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi on August 17 2021 in Lilongwe and pledged to work towards uniting the region to realise its goals for economic growth.

The Sadc Summit is responsible for the overall policy direction and control of functions of the community, ultimately making it the bloc’s policy-making institution.

The ordinary Sadc summit is held every year and is attended by Heads of State and Government from the 16 Sadc member States.

The summit, which starts today and ends tomorrow, is being held under the theme ‘Promoting Industrialisation Through, Agro-Processing, Mineral Beneficiation, and Regional Value Chains for Inclusive and Resilient Economic Growth’.

Besides Lukonde Kyenge, the President was also welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo, Minister of Trade and Industry Mark Katsonga Phiri and Secretary to the President Cabinet Colleen Zamba as well as other senior government officials from DRC and Malawi.

Vice-President Saulos Chilima led the President’s escort party in Lilongwe.