Zambia Endorses Dr.Maimbo as SADC Candidate for AfDB Presidency at 44th SADC Summit
Zambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Mulambo Haimbe, SC, M.P., represented President Hakainde Hichilema at the 44th Ordinary Summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government.
The summit, held under the theme “Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development Towards an Industrialised SADC,” saw the region’s leaders converge to discuss key regional issues.
Among the notable achievements of the summit was the official endorsement of Zambia’s Dr. Samuel Munzele Maimbo as the SADC candidate for the Presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Dr. Maimbo was selected through a highly competitive process, emerging as the preferred candidate among seven contestants. He will represent SADC in the AfDB elections scheduled for May 2025.
Hon. Ambrose Lufuma, M.P., Minister of Defence, and other senior Zambian government officials were also present at the summit, which provided an opportunity for member states to review progress on the SADC regional integration agenda as outlined in the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030.
The RISDP aims to create a peaceful, inclusive, competitive, and middle-to-high income industrialized region.
The summit addressed pressing issues such as food security, particularly the impact of El Niño-induced drought and floods that have affected several SADC countries. Leaders deliberated on strategies to mitigate these challenges and enhance regional resilience.
The summit was preceded by the SADC Council of Ministers’ meeting on August 13-14, 2024, and the Organ Troika Summit on August 16, 2024.
President Hichilema, in his role as Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation, presided over the Organ Troika Summit, where key security and political issues were discussed.
