SADC Leaders Officially Receive New Headquarters Building
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chairperson, His Excellency Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe, and Advocate Duma Gideon Boko, President of Botswana, officially received the SADC Headquarters Building from Bongwe Investments Proprietary Limited during a grand ceremony in Gaborone.
The state-of-the-art building, located in Botswana’s Central Business District, symbolizes regional unity and commitment to collaboration. Mrs. Neo Bogatsu, a Board Member of Bongwe Investments, handed over the facility on behalf of the company, which partnered with the SADC Secretariat and the Government of Botswana in a landmark Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement.
H.E. Dr. Mnangagwa commended Botswana for donating the plot and creating an enabling environment for the Secretariat. He lauded the partnership’s success, stating, “This headquarters reflects SADC’s unity and aspirations, representing a beacon of hope for the region’s future.”
President Boko highlighted Botswana’s pride in hosting the headquarters, emphasizing its significance as a hub for SADC’s regional integration and progress. “This building stands as a symbol of our journey and collective achievements. It is where we will address challenges and chart the path forward for our region,” he noted.
Mrs. Bogatsu emphasized the importance of PPPs in fostering infrastructure growth, urging member states to explore similar collaborations to advance development.
The project was first proposed in 2003 when Botswana offered the plot during a SADC Council of Ministers meeting in Luanda, Angola. The PPP agreement began in 2009, culminating in the building’s completion and handover on December 11, 2024.
