On Thursday, 1st April, 2021, His Excellency Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera. President of the Republic of Malawi launched the Malawi Southern African Development Committee (SADC) National Committee (SNC) at BICC in Lilongwe.
The SADC National Committee (SNC) was established in accordance with Article 16A of the amended SADC Treaty and with the support of a programme called Strengthening the National and Regional Linkages (SNRL) Co-funded by the Federal Government of Germany and the European Union GIZ that aims at initiating regional integration within SADC.
In his remarks, the President stated that the SNC will help facilitate Malawi’s role as SADC Chair and help Malawians to actively participate in the formulation of important regional policies, strategies and programmes of action.
President Chakwera further stated that the formation of the SADC National Committee will ensure that Malawi profits from Regional initiatives such as the SADC Industrialisation and Strategy Roadmap 2015-2063. On the same note, he stated that the SNC will help the Malawi Vision 2063 to realise its aim of achieving inclusive wealth and self-reliant industrialized upper middle-income nation.
During the launch, Honourable Eisenhower Nduwa Mkaka, M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs addressed the gathering as Chair of the SNC. In his remarks, he commended Malawi for officially launching the committee after several failed attempts in the past.
The Honorable Minister further stated that the SNC will help the country to acknowledge and take account of issues dealing with regional and continental integration as it undergoes public reforms in Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs).
Earlier, Dr. Luckie Sikwese, Secretary for Foreign Affairs presented the SNC Terms of Reference ToRs which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has developed.
The meeting was graced by members of the SNC which among others included Ms. Catherine Gotani Hara Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Lobin Lowe Minister of agriculture, Honourable Felix Mlusu Minister of Finance, Honourable Titus Mvalo Minister of Justice, Honourable Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda Minister of Health and Honourable Sosten Gwengwe Minister of Trade.