Southern African leaders have approved a long-term vision that sets out the aspirations of the region until 2050 as well as a new strategic plan as they seek to further deepen regional integration over the next 10 years. The SADC Vision 2050 and Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030 were approved by the 40th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) which was held virtually on August 17 and hosted by Mozambique. “Summit approved the SADC Vision 2050, which is based on a firm foundation of Peace, Security and Democratic Governance, and premised on three interrelated pillars, namely: Industrial Development and Market Integration; Infrastructure Development in support of Regional Integration; and Social and Human Capital Development,” read a communique issued at the end of the summit.

“Summit also approved the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030 to operationalise the Vision 2050.”

The RISDP 2020-2030 replaces the Revised RISDP 2015-20 that lapsed in March 2020, according to SADC Executive Secretary Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax.

The approval of the SADC Vision 2050 is the culmination of a long consultative process that began more than eight years ago when an extraordinary SADC Summit held in June 2012 in Angola decided that the region should develop a long-term vision that will be predicated upon the existing SADC vision “of a common future in a regional community that will ensure economic well-being, improvement of the standards of living and quality of life, freedom and social justice, and peace and security for the peoples of Southern Africa”.

The approved Vision 2050 sets out the long-term aspirations of SADC over the next 30 years while the RISDP 2020-30 outlines the proposed development trajectory for the region until 2030.

The 10-year strategic plan is informed by the aspirations as set out in the long-term vision.

Under the SADC Vision 2050, the region is expected to have five aspirations:

1. Creation of a conducive environment to foster regional cooperation and integration and uphold fair/free movement of goods, people or labour, capital and services;
2. Accelerated mobilisation of resources from within the region and external sources to fast-track the implementation of SADC policies and programmes, and a shift away from the current reliance on International Cooperating Partners towards a more diversified approach that is better integrated and complementary;
3. Improved implementation of SADC policies and programmes through the effective realisation of roles and responsibilities undertaken by various actors and entities through institutional reforms at the levels of the SADC Secretariat, SADC National Committees and National Contact Points;
4. Strengthened compliance by Member States through the implementation of effective compliance monitoring and assurance mechanisms to track progress in implementation of SADC programmes and compliance to Protocols and legal instruments. This will require regular review of the SADC RISDP 2020-30 to allow the effective and authentic application of variable geometry, facilitate active learning and the leveraging of relevant and emerging technologies; and
5. Strengthening of visibility and awareness programmes as a means to trigger and maintain the interest, awareness and participation of the SADC citizenry and Member State officials responsible for driving the regional integration agenda.

Both the SADC Vision 2050 and RISDP 2020-30 envision a peaceful, middle- to high-income industrialised region, where all citizens enjoy sustainable economic well-being, justice and freedom.

The vision seeks to consolidate the Community by leveraging areas of excellence and implementing priorities to achieve sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development underpinned by good governance and durable peace and security in the region.

According to the vision, SADC Member States “commit to upholding the core principles of the Community, namely: the sovereign equality of all Member States; solidarity, peace and security; human rights, democracy and the rule of law; equity, balance and mutual benefit; and the peaceful settlement of disputes.”

The vision seeks the removal of all barriers to deeper regional integration, guided by the objectives and principles of the SADC Treaty and Common Agenda.

In building the foundation for Peace, Security and Democratic Governance, SADC envisions to remain a peaceful and stable region, which is seen as a necessary condition for ensuring the attainment of the objectives of socio-economic development, poverty eradication, and regional integration by 2050.

This is expected to be achieved, among other things, through the strengthening of the regional early warning systems as well as conflict prevention, management, and resolution mechanisms to enable the region to track and monitor political, security and socio-economic threats before they become serious problems.

It is envisaged that by 2050 SADC would have strengthened its collective defence and security system that is capable of safeguarding the territorial integrity of the region.

Under the Industrial Development and Market Integration pillar, the vision is for SADC to be an industrialised and integrated region where citizens equitably benefit from the opportunities of a stable regional market.

This target would be informed by the objectives of the African Union’s Accelerated Industrial Development for Africa, the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa, African Mining Vision, Boosting Intra-African Trade and Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and would be integrated into the broader African Continental Free Trade Area.