Joseph Madzimure Zimpapers Politics Hub
THE 44th SADC Summit to be hosted by Zimbabwe next month will present an opportunity for regional leaders to witness the progress that has been made by the Second Republic even under difficult circumstances, Mozambican Ambassador to Zimbabwe Carvalho Muaria has said.
He said Zimbabwe’s transformation espouses a story of resilience and determination, even under the unjust yoke of economic sanctions that were imposed by the United States and her allies.
Next month, President Mnangagwa will assume chairmanship of the regional body, with his counterparts from the 16-member states expected to attend the summit.
“It will represent a unique opportunity for the regional leaders to witness first-hand, the progress being championed by the resilient and determined Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa,” Ambassador Muaria said.
Some of the projects being pursued are road infrastructure, technology, mining and agricultural transformations, industrialisation, and modernisation initiatives to name a few, towards the attainment of an upper middle-class economy by 2030, despite the country being under more than 20 years of sanctions.
SADC Heads of State and Government, Ambassador Muaria said, are expected to discuss and deliberate on an array of issues, including, but not limited to matters related to peace and security challenges affecting some member states, the impact of the devastating El-Nino-induced drought, and climate change.
Zimbabwe’s hosting of the 44th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit in August presents an opportunity to gain greater international recognition, even from its detractors.
This convergence coincides with regional countries’ focus on industrialisation through infrastructure development.
The summit also presents an opportunity to project the “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra, attracting foreign investment and improving the country’s business environment.
The “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra, an initiative designed to attract foreign investment and promote economic growth, aligns well with the theme of the upcoming 7th Annual SADC Industrialisation Week, which is running under the theme; “Promoting innovation to unlock opportunities for sustainable economic growth and development towards an industrialised Sadc”.
The theme highlights innovation as a key driver of sustainable economic growth across the region, including Zimbabwe.