President of Zimbabwe and current SADC Chairperson, Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, has urged the region to accelerate industrialization and strengthen unity as southern Africa marked SADC Day on Sunday, 17 August 2025.
Delivering his message to member states, Mnangagwa said the commemoration was not only a celebration of the community’s founding vision but also a reminder of the duty to push forward with integration, peace and economic transformation. He called on citizens of the region, including Eswatini, to honour the legacy of SADC’s founding fathers by recommitting to building a prosperous and stable southern Africa.
The President noted that the past year had brought both achievements and challenges, but stressed the importance of regional cooperation in tackling issues that no single state could manage alone. Under the theme of the 44th SADC Summit, member states were reminded that industrialization remained central to the bloc’s development. 
He pointed to the need for value addition to natural resources, urging countries to trade more in what they produce locally. Mnangagwa said young people, women and skilled professionals were “key catalysts” for driving industrialization and should be supported through innovation, entrepreneurship and stronger education systems aligned with the region’s unique culture and resources.
On infrastructure, the SADC chairperson welcomed ongoing regional projects under the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan, saying these were vital to connectivity, energy security and trade. He noted that universal access to energy by 2040, particularly through renewable sources like solar and wind, was a critical target for the region.
Mnangagwa also underlined SADC’s role in promoting peace and security, which he said were essential to attracting investment and ensuring development. He praised the region’s efforts to silence the guns and contribute to peace initiatives, including joint work with the East African Community to resolve conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Calling for renewed unity of purpose, Mnangagwa said no country should be left behind in the march towards industrialization and integration. He encouraged citizens across SADC to remain steadfast in pursuing the vision of a united and prosperous southern Africa for present and future generations.
