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MEMBER STATES:
Angola, Namibia, Botswana, DRC ,South Africa, Lesotho , Swaziland,
Malawi, Tanzania, Mauritius , Zambia ,Mozambique, Zimbabwe
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HISTORY AND BACKGROUND:
The concept of a regional economic co-operation in Southern Africa was
first discussed
at a meeting of the Frontline States foreign ministers in May 1979 in
Gaberone. The meeting led to an international conference in Arusha, Tanzania
two months later which brought together all independent countries, with
the exception of the then Rhodesia, South West Africa and South Africa,
and international donor agencies. The Arusha conference in turn led to
the Lusaka Summit held in the Zambian capital in April 1980. After adopting
the declaration, which was to become known as ‘Southern Africa: Towards
Economic Liberation’, Sir Seretse Khama was elected the first chairman
of the SADCC.
The Declaration committed the signatory governments to pursue policies
aimed at economic liberation (i.e. to reduce economic dependence on South
Africa) and the integrated and equitable development of the economies
of the region. The Southern African Development Co-ordinating Conference
(SADCC) was subsequently formalised by means of a Memorandum of Understanding
on the Institutions of the Southern African Development Co-ordination
Conference dated 20th July 1981.
In 1989 the Summit of Heads of State or Government, meeting in Harare,
decided that SADCC should be formalised to “give it an appropriate
legal status … to replace the Memorandum of Understanding with an
Agreement, Charter or Treaty.” In 1992 the SADCC transformed itself
into the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
The SADC Treaty was signed in Windhoek and dated 17th August 1992. In
Blantyre on 14 August 2001, Head of State and Government signed an Agreement
Amending the SADC Treaty.
OBJECTIVES:
The main objective of SADC is to achieve development and economic growth,
alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of the peoples
of Southern Africa and support the socially disadvantaged through regional
integration.
These objectives are to be achieved through increased regional integration,
built on democratic principles and equitable and sustainable development.
The countries of Southern Africa have adopted a framework of co-operation
based on:
• Deeper economic co-operation and integration, on basis of' balance,
equity and mutual benefit, providing for enhanced investment and trade,
and freer movement of factors of production, and goods and services across
national borders;
• Common economic, political, social values and systems, enhancing
enterprise and
competitiveness, democracy and good governance, respect for the rule of
law and the guarantee of' human rights, popular participation and the
alleviation of poverty; and
• Regional solidarity, peace and security, in order for the people
of the region to live and work together in peace and harmony.
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