SADC Executive Secretary highlights regional progress, challenges at Council of Ministers meeting

Read the full story here.

Southern African Development Community (SADC) Executive Secretary Elias Magosi has highlighted progress made by the region in energy, digital connectivity, trade, investment and agriculture, while calling for deeper regional cooperation to address persistent challenges facing Member States. 

He said the region was meeting against the backdrop of profound global change, including geopolitical tensions, shifting economic realities, declining development assistance and conflicts in various parts of the world.

“While these developments pose challenges for the region, they also reinforce an important lesson we can no longer ignore, that the future of our region will increasingly depend on our ability to trust each other more and work together more, to strengthen regional resilience and drive our own development agenda under our own terms,” Magosi said.

Magosi said the SADC region added 3 253 megawatts of new installed generation capacity across 12 mainland Member States during the 2025/26 financial year, with a further 1 611 megawatts added by the Island States.

The region's total installed capacity now stands at 88 202 megawatts, while operational capacity has reached 54 812 megawatts, exceeding combined regional peak demand and reserve requirements of 52 617 megawatts.

Magosi called for accelerated grid expansion, stronger cross-border interconnections and increased investment in off-grid and renewable energy solutions.

Map of Africa indicating SADC (light green) and SADC+SACU Southern African Customs Union(dark green) members. Source: Wikipedia