Staff Reporter

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers is set to convene at Zimbabwe’s New Parliament Building, in Mt Hampden, from Wednesday, March 13, to Thursday, March 14, 2025.

The high-level meeting will bring together Foreign Affairs Ministers from the 16 SADC member states to discuss key regional matters and review progress on policy implementation.

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, will chair the meeting, which is expected to provide a platform for assessing the implementation of previous SADC Council and Summit decisions.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, discussions will focus on strengthening regional cooperation in economic development, trade policies, and security matters. The meeting follows a series of preliminary sessions, including, The SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials, The Finance Committee Meeting, A meeting of senior officials and Key Experts on the progress of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030

These preparatory meetings, which ran from March 4 to March 7, set the groundwork for the high-level ministerial discussions.

Beyond the SADC Council of Ministers meeting, Zimbabwe will also play host to an important diplomatic engagement—the SADC-European Union Ministerial Partnership Dialogue, scheduled for March 15,2025, at the New Parliament Building.

This high-level dialogue, which will be co-chaired by Professor Murwira and Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radoslaw Sikorski, aims to foster cooperation in peace, security, trade, and policies promoting sustainable economic growth.

The SADC-EU engagement underscores the region’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships while advancing economic development and security cooperation with global partners.

Hosting these crucial diplomatic meetings reinforces Zimbabwe’s central role in regional integration and global partnerships. As the SADC Council of Ministers deliberates on economic and security challenges, the outcomes of these discussions will shape future policies aimed at promoting sustainable development across Southern Africa.

With Zimbabwe at the helm of these high-level engagements, the country continues to position itself as a key player in shaping the future of regional and international cooperation.