His Majesty King Mswati III left the country last night for Durban, South Africa, where he will join regional leaders for the 46th Ordinary Summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government.
Accompanied by Inkhosikati LaFogiyane, His Majesty departed through the King Mswati III International Airport. He was seen off by emakhosikati, members of the royal family, Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini and other Cabinet ministers, members of emabandla, senior government officials as well as members of the public.
His Majesty is expected to join fellow heads of State and government for the high-level regional gathering, which culminates in the main summit at the Durban International Convention Centre on Monday.
The 46th Ordinary Summit will be hosted and chaired by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and will focus on regional industrialisation, infrastructure development, agriculture and the transformation of critical minerals.
The Summit will be held under the theme: ‘Resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World’.
According to the SADC secretariat, the theme places particular emphasis on developing infrastructure, agriculture and critical minerals as vehicles for accelerating industrialisation across Southern Africa. The regional bloc wants to build an economy that is more industrially competitive, resilient to climate change and socially inclusive while ensuring that the region derives greater economic value from its resources.
Today, senior officials and the Ministerial Committee of the Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation are scheduled to meet, followed tomorrow by the Summit of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The main Heads of State and Government Summit will then take place on Tuesday.
Regional leaders are expected to consider the political and economic state of Southern Africa, including global, continental and regional economic trends and SADC’s socio-economic performance.
They will also review progress made in implementing decisions taken at previous summits and commitments made at the 45th SADC Summit in Madagascar last year.
Among the major issues on the agenda will be the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund, which is intended to support the financing of regional development projects and programmes.
Food and nutrition security, disaster preparedness and the region’s response to humanitarian emergencies are also expected to receive attention.
The leaders will further consider the impact of global geopolitical developments on Southern Africa, according to the SADC Secretariat.
The gathering will also mark South Africa’s assumption of the SADC Chairpersonship for 2026/27. South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has identified regional industrialisation and integration among the priorities of its chairship.
South Africa, the region’s most industrialised economy, is expected to use its year at the helm to push for stronger regional economic integration while maintaining SADC’s focus on peace and security.
