Staff reporter
Government has expressed immense satisfaction with the progress made so far in preparations for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, slated to take place in Harare this August. The country has put a strong emphasis on preparatory works, particularly focusing on the infrastructure leading to the New Parliament Building, the venue of the Summit.
In an interview with Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary, Nick Mangwana said that all preparations are proceeding smoothly, with some works nearing completion.
“I can explicitly and euphorically state that the roadworks are at an advanced stage. The water and reticulation are almost finished, the ICT systems and ICT infrastructure have been put in place, accommodation is in place and also the villas are being constructed and we have reached the final stage in terms of completion of all the major infrastructure works that have been taking place across the country as we work together towards hosting the SADC summit,” he said.
Mangwana highlighted that the SADC summit, being held in Harare, is a testament to Zimbabwe's elevated status in international relations. He attributed this to the leadership provided by the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa, positioning Zimbabwe as a key player within the SADC region. This aligns with the SADC industrialization policy and the broader African Continental Free Trade Area agenda of the African Union.
“The SADC Summit will be held in Harare in Zimbabwe, and this is obviously because of the leadership that has been provided in the Second Republic by His Excellency, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in that Zimbabwe is now the paragon in terms of international relations. It is now the citadel of international relations as we work together, within the SADC regional body, within the context of the SADC region and in terms of the SADC industrialisation policy, whilst we look forward to the Africa Free Continental Trade Area in terms of the AU agenda,” Mr. Mangwana elaborated.
Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa last week personally checked on progress when he toured the facilities and other infrastructure to be used during the Summit and reaffirmed the Second Republic’s commitment to delivering a one of a kind gathering.
“Zimbabwe is a member of SADC, and summits are held by member states, so there is nothing really that is exceptional for Zimbabwe hosting the SADC Summit, but we are privileged that this year Zimbabwe has been chosen to host the Summit.
“This is why we are working 24 hours a day to make sure we host SADC here in an environment never seen before,” said the President.
The culmination of the summit will see President Mnangagwa assuming the chairmanship of the regional trading bloc, marking a significant milestone for Zimbabwe.
