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By MUNESU NYAKUDYA

The trade and development studies (TRADES) Centre team on Tuesday at holiday Inn Harare said they have a strong feeling that Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders has to recommit themselves to the agenda of realising the objectives of an integrated SADC region in particular and poverty eradication in general.

The TRADES Centre team was adopted in 2005 to provide SADC member states and the SADC Secretariat with comprehensive development agenda on social economic development policies and strategic direction for the region to achieve deeper integration.

The team gave a summary report of the independent midterm review of the SADC regional strategic development plan of 2005 to 2012.

The summary was authored by Dr Moses Tekere as the team leader and Trade Industry Finance and Investment Expert, Dr Peter Zhou as Infrastructure and services expert, Dr Steven Chipika Social and Human Development and Special Programmes Expert, Dr Brighton Mvumi food Agriculture and Natural resources Expert, Dorothy Mashayavanhu legal and Institutional Aspects Expert, Joyce Malaba Statistics Expert, Mr Samuel Chari ICT Expert, Dr Arthur Mazhambe, Private Sector Expert, and Professor David Katerere, Science and Technology Expert.

Dr Moses Tekere, the team leader and Trade Industry Finance and Investments Expert said, “Halfway through the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), 2003-2018 implementation period and in light of great uncertainty, coupled with a bleak outlook on the global economy, the SADC leaders need to recommit themselves to the agenda of realising the objectives of an integrated SADC region in particular and poverty eradication in general”.

Dr Tekete added that, “The ultimate objective of the RISDP was promoting sustainable and equitable economic development growth and integration of the agenda of the SADC to accelerate poverty eradication”

Tendai Makanza from the Ministry of labour said, “The SADC we want is a SADC that is characterised by a people-cantered development paradigm; which guarantees rights and dignity of every human being regardless of race, colour, ethnicity, religion, p[political opinion, social status and age; free from poverty; gender sensitive; with stable economies underpinned by equitable and sustainable development, fair and just trade and redistribution of wealth and productive assets; which respect the rule of law and upholds democratic values and human rights.”

Makanza added that, “It can be undoubtedly said SADC Treaty, the various SADC Protocols, SADC Codes, MOUs, Declarations and other regional/ continental and international development instruments sketch a very broad ambitious visions for regional integration among the SADC member states.”

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