SADC Transformation University on Heads of State Summit agenda

WINDHOEK, 15 AUG  – The 38th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government is expected to approve the operationalisation of the SADC University of Transformation.
Chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah told a pre-summit media briefing on the outcome of the SADC Council of Ministers meeting on Tuesday, the decision to establish the University of Transformation was already taken the SADC Summit taken in 2016.

The Council of Ministers deliberated on the matter and made proposals on two models that could be taken to establish the university which will be submitted to the Summit for it to take a decision, she said.
Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, noted that ministers of higher education deliberated on the matter and considered implications and how an efficient institution could be established.

“Internationally, we know that there are two ways of establishing institutions like universities. You can have a university which is a standing institution but you can also have a system which you can call visual universities whereby courses could be conducted through the internet,” Nandi-Ndaitwah explained.
She said a visual university would be more cost effective and be able to cover as many people as possible. The courses that will be offered at such university will be offered in English, French and Portuguese.

The Summit which started on Thursday last week held several meetings in preparation for the Head of State Summit which is slated for Friday.
The Summit is expected to elect chairpersons and deputy chairpersons of the Summit and of the Organ on Politics and Security Cooperation.

The report of the outgoing chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation will also be presented at the Summit; as well as a report on the operationalisation of the 37th Summit theme which focused on partnering with the private sector to develop industry and value chains are expected to be presented to the heads of states.

She said the Heads of State and Government were expected to discuss issues of gender and development, food and security, HIV/Aids in the region as well as the socio-economic and global economic situations and the performance of the SADC economy.

Continental integration issues which include the Tripartite and Continental Free Trade Area, implementation of Free Movement of Persons in Africa; the African Union (AU) Institutional reforms and Post-Cotonou Agreement will also form part of the Summit’s agenda when it convenes on Friday.
South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa is also expected to deliver a statement to commemorate SADC Day on Friday.
NAMPA