Minister of Trade and Industry, Vitumbiko Mumba, will lead Malawi’s delegation at the 45th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government in Antananarivo, Madagascar, on August 17, 2025.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Relations Officer, Charles Nkhalamba, disclosed this in an interview with the Malawi News Agency (Mana).
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“Honourable Vitumbiko Mumba, Minister of Trade and Industry is representing the Head of State (President Chakwera) as the leader of Malawi delegation,” said Nkhalamba in the interview.
According to Nkhalamba, preparatory meetings for the Heads of State and Government Summit are already underway in Madagascar and Malawi has been participating in all the meetings.
“At the Senior Officials level, Dr. Mwayiwawo Polepole, Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is leading the Malawi delegation. At the Council of Ministers level, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nancy Tembo is heading the delegation,” he said.
The summit will discuss key issues, including deepening regional integration, strengthening peace and security, and fostering inclusive economic growth.
As Nkhalamba noted, “Some of the issues that will be discussed include deepening regional integration, strengthening peace and security, and also fostering inclusive economic growth.”
This aligns with remarks made by SADC Executive Secretary Elias Mpedi Magosi during the SADC Council of Ministers meeting on August 12, 2025, in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
“There is a need for the region to reduce its dependence on external support and focus on enhancing intra-regional trade and investment. We stand a better chance when we rely more on ourselves than on external support, over which we have absolutely no control,” said Magosi.
The SADC leaders also discussed various initiatives aimed at promoting regional integration, including the development of a Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Competitiveness Strategy and the establishment of a Pooled Procurement Services for pharmaceuticals and medical supplies.
The 45th SADC Summit will take place under the theme “Advancing Industrialization, Agricultural Transformation and Energy”.
