The Southern African Development Community (SADC) marked its 25th anniversary this week during its two-day summit of heads of state and government in Botswana capital Gaborone.

Leaders to the summit reaffirmed their commitment to the regional integration process as they reviewed the achievements of the regional bloc over the years and sought for solutions to the daunting challenges ahead.

SADC was launched in 1980 by nine countries determined to foster closer cooperation and reduce economic dependence on the hostile but powerful apartheid regime of South Africa. It was then known as the Southern African Development Coordination Conference. Since then, the loose alliance of nine countries have evolved into a major bloc on the African continent, bound together with treaties in politics, defense and security, trade, finance, agriculture, mining, energy, transport and communications, to name just a few.

Its membership has also increased to 14, including Madagascar that was admitted to full membership at the Gaborone summit. SADC now has a total population of over 216 million.

The region has witness tremendous changes over the past 25 years. Colonies gained independence. The South Africa racist regime were overthrown. Peace and stability have returned to countries that were once torn by civil wars.

All this has happened with efforts from SADC.

The holding of successful elections since 2004 in Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe under SADC rules is an indication that democracy and good governance are beginning to take roots in the region.

In the economic field, the region has recorded 11 consecutive years of positive growth by 2004.

SADC countries posted an average growth rate of 4.1 percent in 2004, higher from 3.2 percent in 2003. Angola, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of the Congo reported growth of 11 percent, 7.8 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively.

Intra-SADC trade has risen from five percent of member countries' total trade in 1980 to 25 percent in 2004.

The approval of the protocol on the facilitation of movement of persons at the summit is particularly a welcome development that will go a long way in bringing true integration.

If ratified by member countries, the protocol will allow citizens of member countries to move within the region without visa for 90 days a year at maximum.

Challenges for SADC

SADC is facing daunting challenges as well. It is estimated that the region's economies must grow by 7 percent for them to reach the millennium development goals (MDGs).

Festus Mogae, Botswana president and new chairman of the summit, bemoaned that the region has signed many protocols that are left gather dust on shelf.

He called for an action and implementation-oriented SADC that will be more effective by prioritizing its programs.

Mogae also urged member countries to stick to the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan approved by the 2003 summit, saying that the plan has provided them with guidelines to attain poverty reduction, job creation and the MDGs.

The summit also identified food security and HIV/AIDS as major challenges facing the region, and called for enhanced efforts at both national and regional levels.

"As we conclude our meeting today we have no illusions about the challenges before us. We are determined to intensify our cooperation to ensure that we can overcome any obstacles on the path to a better future for our people," said Mogae.

(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2005)