PRIME Minister (PM) Russell Dlamini has met a Southern African Development Community (SADC) delegation led by Professor Ishmael Kula Theletsane as part of an induction programme preparing Eswatini to assume the chairship of the regional bloc’s Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Professor Theletsane, who is Director of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, was accompanied by Terry Rose, Senior Officer responsible for Politics and Diplomacy.
Their courtesy meeting with the premier on Friday formed part of a wider programme aimed at preparing the kingdom and its key institutions for the responsibilities that will come with leading the Organ.
The Organ deals with some of SADC’s most important regional responsibilities, including cooperation on politics, defence, peace and security.
During the meeting, the PM and the delegation discussed the country’s forthcoming chairship, including the responsibilities, priorities and programme of activities the kingdom will be expected to undertake during its tenure.
Theletsane briefed the prime minister on progress made during the induction programme, which has taken the delegation across several government institutions whose mandates are directly linked to the work of the organ.
These include institutions responsible for foreign affairs, defence, national security, public security, policing, immigration and correctional services.
The engagements are intended to prepare the different arms of government for their respective roles once the kingdom assumes the chairship.
Theletsane also outlined the regional engagements expected during the kingdom’s tenure, including meetings, consultations and sector-specific activities that the country will be required to host and facilitate over the coming year.
He assured the PM that the SADC Secretariat would continue working closely with government as preparations progress and that it would provide technical support, institutional guidance and coordination to help the kingdom carry out its responsibilities.
The PM welcomed the induction programme and the technical guidance being provided to the country’s institutions, stressing that effective preparation and coordination would be critical to the successful execution of the kingdom’s mandate.
He reaffirmed the country’s readiness to take on the chairship and its commitment to contributing to SADC’s regional integration, peace and security agenda.
The PM said the kingdom would work with other Member States to advance peace, security, stability, democracy, good governance and regional cooperation.
He described the forthcoming chairship as both a major regional responsibility and an opportunity for Eswatini to contribute more directly to efforts aimed at strengthening peace and stability across Southern Africa.
According to the PM, the country seeks to use its tenure to strengthen regional solidarity and deepen cooperation among SADC Member States as they collectively confront challenges affecting the region.
The induction programme is particularly important because the chairship will require coordination across several government institutions rather than being confined to the country’s diplomatic establishment.
Institutions dealing with defence, policing, immigration, correctional services and national security will all have roles within the broader programme associated with the Organ.
Theletsane’s delegation is on that account, using the visit to engage those institutions ahead of Eswatini taking up the responsibility and to provide guidance on what will be expected during the country’s tenure. The programme is aimed at helping prepare the country for the practical demands of facilitating the various regional meetings and consultations expected under its leadership.
The PM said the kingdom viewed the responsibility as an opportunity to work collectively with other Member States and make a meaningful contribution to SADC’s efforts to consolidate peace, security and stability across the region.
