The SADC summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, concludes on Sunday following a key language announcement and a commitment to industrialization of the region.
Member states jubilantly endorsed Kiswahili as the fourth official language within the region.
Tanzanian President John Magufuli has officially taken over as Chairperson of the bloc.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is attending the summit.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake his first State Visit since being elected President in May 2019, to Dar es Salaam in the United Republic of Tanzania on 14-15 August 2019. https://t.co/Ib1gNkBAmc
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) August 14, 2019
As part of his visit to Tanzania, President Ramaphosa will also lead the South African delegation to the 39th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for 17-18 August 2019. https://t.co/Ib1gNkBAmc
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) August 14, 2019
His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa and Dr Tshepo Motsepe arrive at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania??, for a State Visit and to attend the 39th Ordinary Summit of #SADC Heads of State and Government. #SAinTanzania #BetterAfricaBetterWorld pic.twitter.com/3Yom2ydwUU
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) August 14, 2019
This is President @CyrilRamaphosa’s first state visit since he was elected President of the Republic of South Africa in May 2019. South Africa and Tanzania enjoy strong fraternal, historical as well as excellent political, economic and social relations #SAinTanzania ?? pic.twitter.com/kIsfgtqCdn
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) August 14, 2019
His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa and Dr Tshepo Motsepe arrive at the State House and are received by the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, HE John Pombe Magufuli for the State Visit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. #SAinTanzania ?? #BetterAfricaBetterWorld pic.twitter.com/WZt3YhOc1R
— PresidencyZA (@PresidencyZA) August 15, 2019
In his acceptance speech, Magufuli pledged to make industrialisation a top priority.
He also called on member states to push for the lifting of western sanctions on Zimbabwe.
President Magafuli has been pushing for Kiswahili to be the fourth language within the SADC region, it is spoken by about six countries within these SADC countries within the bloc.
