Home > Southern African Development Community

1 History

The Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC), which was the forerunner of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), was formed in Lusaka, Zambia, on 1 April 1980, following the adoption of the Lusaka Declaration (entitled Southern Africa: Towards Economic Liberation) by the nine founding member states.

The Declaration and Treaty establishing the Community, which replaced the Coordination Conference, was signed at the Summit of Heads of State or Government on 17 August 1992, in Windhoek, Namibia.

2 Aims of the SADC

The main aims of the Southern African Development Community are:

• To harmonise the political and socio-economic policies and plans of the member states.
• To mobilise the people of the region and their institutions to take initiatives to develop economic, social and cultural ties across the region, and to participate fully in the implementation of the programmes and projects of the SADC.
• To create appropriate institutions and mechanisms for the mobilisation of requisite resources for the implementation of the programmes and the operations of the SADC and its institutions.
• To develop policies aimed at he progressive elimination of obstacles to free movement of capital and labour, goods and services, and of the peoples of the region generally among member states.
• To promote the development of human resources.
• To promote the development, transfer and mastery of technology.
• To improve economic management and performance through regional cooperation.
• To promote the coordination and harmonisation of the international relations of member states.
• To secure international understanding, cooperation and support, mobilise the inflow of public and private resources in the region.
• To develop such other activities as member states may decide in furtherance of the objectives of SADC.

3 Member States

In 2004 the SADC had 14 member states, namely:

• Angola
• Botswana
• Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Mauritius
• MozambiqueMozambique is a country in Southern Africa, bordering South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Malawi and Zimbabwe. It is a member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries and the Commonwealth of Nations. Its capital and largest city is Maputo, located
• Namibia
• SeychellesThe Republic of Seychelles ( Creole: Repiblik Sesel is an island nation in the Indian Ocean, some 1,600 km east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar. Other nearby island countries and territories include Mauritius and Reunion to the s
• South AfricaSouth Africa is a republic at the southern tip of Africa. It is bordered to the north by Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the north-east by Mozambique and Swaziland. Lesotho is contained entirely inside the borders of South Africa. South Africa is one o
• SwazilandUmbuso weSwatini Kingdom of Swaziland ( In Detail) National motto: Siyinqaba (Swati: "We are the fortress" Official language Swati and English Capitals Mbabane: administrative Lobamba: royal and legislative King Mswati III Prime Minister Themba Dlamini Ar
• TanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania in Swahili) is a country on the east coast of central Africa. It is bordered by Kenya and Uganda on the north, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the west, and Zambia
• ZambiaRepublic of Zambia ( In Detail) National motto: One Zambia, One Nation Official language English Capital Lusaka President Levy Mwanawasa Independence October 24 1964 Area Total % water Ranked 38th 752,614 km² 1% Population Total (2003) Density Ranked 77th
• ZimbabweThe Republic of Zimbabwe is a country located in the southern part of the continent of Africa, between the Victoria Falls, Zambesi river, Kariba Dam and Limpopo river. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the west, Zambia to the north

The headquarters of the SADC are situated in GaboroneGaborone estimated population 186,000 ( 2001), is the capital of Botswana. It replaced Mafeking as the capital of the Bechuanaland Protectorate in 1965. Mafeking (now Mafikeng) was outside the Bechuanaland Protectorate, in north-west South Africa, an odd, Botswana. The working languages of Community are English, French and Portuguese.