SADC Council of Ministers to meet in March in Namibia

WINDHOEK, FEB 25 — The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers meeting will be held in Namibia’s capital Windhoek, on March 15 to 16, according to an announcement Monday.
Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will in her capacity as the current Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers host the meeting.

During the two days, the ministers will discuss issues of regional importance; consider a number of strategic documents and receive reports on the implementation of the priority areas of the revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2015-2020.

Furthermore the statement said the Council will also review implementation of the 38th SADC Summit whose focus is on “Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development”, the decisions from the last council, and approve the SADC Secretariat’s budget for the year 2019/2020.
Meanwhile the SADC Council of Ministers, will be preceded by the meeting of the SADC Standing Committee of Senior Officials on March 11, and the meeting of the Finance Committee on March 12.

Currently the Council of Ministers oversees the functioning and development of SADC, and ensures that policies and decisions are implemented.
The Council consists of ministers from each of the 16 Member States; usually from the ministries responsible for Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Economic Planning or Finance, and meets twice a year in March, and August. – XINHUA