Government says the Southern African Development Community (SADC) continues to be an effective player in international relations including the continental and global economies.
Speaking during the virtual launch of the Special Publication on SADC success stories in Zambia, Chief Government Spokesperson Dora Siliya observed that the region body has continued to grow from nine Member States at inception to the current 16 Member States with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$706 billion in the 40 years of its existence.
Ms. Siliya stated that this has positioned the region as a strong and competitive destination for investment.
She said Zambia is not only the birthplace of SADC, but also remains a strong and committed Member of SADC as the country’s impeccable and long-standing credentials of peace, stability and unity, have earned her an attractive reputation as an influential player in the region and beyond.
“For her part, Zambia is not only the birthplace of SADC, but also remains a strong and committed Member of SADC. The country’s impeccable and long-standing credentials of peace, stability and unity, have earned her an attractive reputation as an influential player in the region and beyond.”
“Over the years, Zambia has had the honor of chairing SADC and its various organs with significant achievements, among them the smooth transfer of power in the DRC following that country’s presidential elections last year. Zambia has also been at the center of various peace mediation and election observer missions in the region for enhanced political and economic stability,” Ms. Siliya stated.
She explained that Zambia’s role is also highly visible in various SADC protocols and processes which the country has signed such as the SADC Gender Protocol as well as the SADC Free Trade Area, in the quest to improve the living standards of citizens.
Ms. Siliya added that in terms of infrastructure development, the Katimamulilo Bridge between Namibia and Zambia, One-Stop Border posts at Chirundu, Sesheke and Nakonde, as well as the state-of-the art Kazungula Bridge which is nearing completion, are among Zambia’s landmark achievements under the SADC regional integration agenda.
She further said it is for this reason that Government’s agenda to industrialize the country through robust infrastructure development in line with the SADC regional integration programme, is firmly on course.
“It is against this background that as part of the activities to commemorate this year’s SADC Day and the 40th anniversary of the regional body, I am delighted to launch a special publication dubbed ‘SADC Success Stories in Zambia’ that Government has produced with the generous support of the Germany Government and the European Union (EU) under the Strengthening National Regional Linkages (SNRL) programme in the SADC region.”
“Today, therefore, marks a great milestone in my Government’s agenda to take SADC to the people through this publication. I note with appreciation that a lot of time, effort and resources were invested in the production of the publication, including training of journalists in Lusaka, Chipata and Livingstone who later participated in writing the stories that have been featured in the publication,” she stated.
She expressed gratitude to the Germany Government and the European Union (EU) for the financial and technical support, through GIZ, in the successful production of the special publication under the Strengthening National Regional Linkages (SNRL) programme in which the two cooperating partners are supporting SADC Member States to strengthen national structures for effective coordination, monitoring and mobilization of resources in the implementation of the regional integration and development agenda.
Zambia has today 17th August, 2020 joined the rest of the SADC community in commemorating the SADC Day which also marks the 40th Anniversary of the regional body.