Mnangagwa Hands SADC Baton to Ramaphosa, Warns Region Against Over-Reliance on Foreign Funding

DURBAN — Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has formally handed the chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, calling on the region to strengthen its own financial and industrial capacity and reduce its dependence on external funding.

Mnangagwa delivered his handover address on Monday at the 46th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.

His remarks came as he reflected on a year in which the 16-member regional bloc dealt with conflict and humanitarian challenges in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), an Ebola outbreak, political turmoil in Madagascar and Zimbabwe’s successful campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

While acknowledging the value of international partnerships, Mnangagwa warned that excessive reliance on external funding could undermine the region’s ability to determine its own priorities.

“While we value our international partnerships, experience and hindsight have shown the increasing need to reduce overreliance on external funding, which has the risk of compromising our sovereignty and national priorities.”

He told regional leaders that SADC must instead invest in its own financial and industrial capabilities.

“We must, therefore, build and enhance our own financial and industrial capabilities.”

Building the region from within

Mnangagwa linked his call for greater self-reliance to the summit’s broader focus on industrialisation, infrastructure development, agriculture and critical minerals.

The summit is being held under the theme: “Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World.”

The theme, adopted as South Africa prepared to assume the chairmanship, places industrialisation and value addition at the centre of the region’s development agenda.

READ MORE: Ramaphosa Urges SADC To Take Control Of Its Industrial Future Ahead Of 46th Summit

Invoking Zimbabwe’s national development philosophy in Ndebele and Shona, Mnangagwa told delegates: “Ilizwe lakhiwa, libuswe, likhule-ke-lwe ngabanikazi balo; Nyika inovakwa, inotongwa, inonamatigwa nevene vayo.”

He said the message was ultimately about self-determination.

“Nations, cities, and regions are built by their own people.”

Mnangagwa said putting citizens at the centre of development was essential if the region’s natural wealth was to translate into better living standards.

He also called for greater value addition to Southern Africa’s mineral resources, urging member states to move away from exporting raw materials and instead develop local processing, refining and manufacturing capacity.

“We must ensure that we add value to our heritage-based resources, and move away from exporting raw minerals, by building local processing, refining, and manufacturing capacities across Southern Africa.”

The outgoing chairperson also encouraged SADC member states that have not yet joined the SADC Regional Development Fund to sign and ratify the relevant protocol.

He described the fund as “a cornerstone for our developmental strategy” and urged outstanding member states to formalise their participation.

Tributes and regional health concerns

Mnangagwa began his address by paying tribute to two former Southern African leaders who died during his tenure as SADC chairperson.

He described former Botswana president Festus Mogae as “a man of immense wisdom and key architect of SADC”, while former Zambian acting president Guy Scott was remembered as a leader who “served his nation with distinction, courage and resolve.”

He also expressed solidarity with the Democratic Republic of Congo over its latest Ebola outbreak.

“We stand in solidarity with you during this difficult time and commend your resilience in the face of this health crisis.”

Mnangagwa said SADC remained deeply concerned about the continuing conflict and humanitarian crisis in eastern DRC, while welcoming ongoing diplomatic and mediation efforts aimed at resolving the conflict.

Madagascar remains on SADC’s agenda

The political situation in Madagascar also featured prominently in Mnangagwa’s assessment of the bloc’s work during his tenure.

SADC’s Panel of Elders and Mediation Reference Group have continued supporting the country’s political reform process following its political crisis.

“The Region remains committed to supporting the people and government of Madagascar as they chart their reform process towards sustainable peace, stability, and development, within the agreed time frames.”

SADC convened an extraordinary summit on 29 June 2026 to address the situation in Madagascar. Ramaphosa, who was then serving as interim chairperson, called for greater strengthening of the bloc’s Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation to improve its ability to respond to regional crises.

Mnangagwa also welcomed progress on the SADC Standby Force Regional Logistics Depot being constructed in Botswana.

He called on member states to help secure the funding needed to complete the facility, describing it as a critical regional asset.

He also highlighted the completed Kazungula Water Project as an achievement worth celebrating, saying it would provide clean water to residents and border users.

Zimbabwe’s UN Security Council seat

Mnangagwa devoted significant attention to Zimbabwe’s successful election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.

He credited the achievement to the support of SADC and the wider African continent.

“The endorsement of our bid was a vote of confidence in Zimbabwe’s commitment to the principles of peace, dialogue, and international cooperation.”

Mnangagwa stressed that Zimbabwe’s seat should be viewed as a regional and continental achievement.

“This seat is not for Zimbabwe alone; it is a seat for the SADC region along with the broader African continent and Global South.”

He also thanked SADC member states for their continued solidarity with Zimbabwe over the sanctions imposed by some Western countries, renewing Harare’s call for their unconditional removal.

Baton passes to Ramaphosa

Mnangagwa concluded his address by formally handing the SADC chairmanship to Ramaphosa, who had already served as interim chairperson for much of the past year following developments in Madagascar.

Expressing confidence in Ramaphosa’s leadership, Mnangagwa said:

“I am confident that under his astute leadership, guided by the principle of Ubuntu and the indomitable spirit of SADC, we will overcome any challenges towards building the future our people deserve.”

READ MORE: Eswatini Takes Centre Stage as Shakantu Prepares to Lead SADC Security Organ

He pledged Zimbabwe’s continued support as South Africa takes the organisation forward.

Mnangagwa also congratulated King Mswati III of Eswatini on assuming the chairmanship of SADC’s Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, succeeding Malawi’s Professor Peter Mutharika.

He thanked Mutharika for his leadership of the Organ, which he described as “the backbone of our collective pursuit of peace and stability.”

A new year under South African leadership

Ramaphosa will now lead SADC towards the 47th Ordinary Summit, with the region’s economic outlook, implementation of previous summit resolutions and progress on commitments made at last year’s summit in Madagascar among the issues expected to remain high on the agenda.

For South Africa, the chairmanship comes at a time when SADC continues to grapple with unemployment, infrastructure deficits, food insecurity, uneven economic growth and limited industrial capacity.

The Durban summit’s emphasis on industrialisation, critical minerals, agriculture and infrastructure therefore sets the tone for South Africa’s year at the helm.

Mnangagwa ended his address with a message of unity and solidarity:

“Long live SADC. Long live our Unity. Long live our Solidarity. God bless you all. God bless SADC. God bless Africa.”