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Zambia will host the 47th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government next year, following decisions made at the 46th Ordinary Summit held in Durban, South Africa on 17th August 2026.
Summit elected South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as the Chairperson of SADC, and President Hakainde Hichilema as the Incoming Chairperson.
The announcement was contained in the official communiqué released on Tuesday after the summit chaired by President Ramaphosa.
President Ramaphosa will serve as SADC Chairperson, with Zambia set to take over the chairmanship at the next summit.
The 46th Summit brought together Heads of State and Government and representatives from all 16 SADC Member States to review progress on regional integration, peace, security and economic development.
Zambia was represented at the Durban meeting by Pamela Chisanga, Zambia’s High Commissioner to Botswana and Representative to SADC.
His Majesty King Mswati III of Eswatini was elected Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
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The Summit reiterated its solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and reaffirmed SADC’s support for coordinated regional and international efforts to restore peace and security, protect civilians, strengthen humanitarian and public health responses, promote inclusive dialogue, and enhance resilience to ongoing challenges.
On Madagascar, the SADC Summit urged stakeholders to pursue dialogue and constitutional order.
The Summit noted the evolving global geopolitical and economic landscape and urged Member States to leverage emerging opportunities to deepen regional integration, strengthen trade and investment, mobilise domestic resources, and strengthen collective resilience to advance sustainable development and the regional agenda.
It also endorsed a new theme to guide regional priorities for the coming year.
Leaders endorsed the theme of the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government titled, ‘Resilient, Sustainable, and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World,’ highlighting infrastructure, agriculture, and critical minerals as key drivers of industrialisation for a competitive, climate-resilient, inclusive, and prosperous SADC region.”
Other resolutions included approval of the SADC Tourism UNIVISA agreement, measures to combat climate shocks, and calls to ratify the SADC Regional Development Fund.
Summit expressed appreciation to South Africa for hosting the 46th Summit and commended President Ramaphosa for his leadership in advancing SADC Vision 2050.
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