Southern Africa: From South Africa's Immigration Issues to Zimbabwe Sanctions, SADC Takes a Stand On Regional Challenges

What the report says

The Southern African Development Community used its latest summit to set out a regional response to several cross-border challenges, including migration pressures in South Africa and the long-running sanctions dispute involving Zimbabwe. The meeting was held in Durban, South Africa, at the 46th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, according to the source material distributed by AllAfrica from New Zimbabwe.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa took over as chairperson of the 16-member bloc, replacing Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa. That leadership shift gives Pretoria a central role in guiding SADC’s agenda over the coming year. On migration, the bloc said it wanted a coordinated, multi-country approach that addresses the drivers of movement across the region, amid continuing tension over undocumented migration, deportations and attacks on foreign nationals.

SADC also restated its call for the removal of economic sanctions on Zimbabwe, arguing that the measures continue to harm the country’s development and investment prospects. More broadly, the summit discussed regional security, trade integration, health preparedness and industrial development. It backed peace efforts in eastern Congo, encouraged dialogue in Madagascar, and praised Mozambique’s counterterrorism efforts in Cabo Delgado.

The bloc also emphasized economic integration, including fewer trade barriers, better cross-border infrastructure and stronger regional value chains around critical minerals. It approved the SADC Tourism UNIVISA agreement, a visa initiative intended to support easier travel, tourism and investment across participating states.