The much awaited 41st SADC summit has kick started in Lilongwe on Monday with Malawi’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Luckie Sikwese assuming the chairmanship of the Standing Committee of Senior Officials.

Sikwese, has succeeded Ambassador Carlos Manuel Carlos Rodrigues Da Costa of Mozambique.

In his acceptance speech, Sikwese emphasized that the meeting is crucial as it fosters implementation of important programmes and projects aimed at deepening the SADC regional integration agenda which focuses on improving the wellbeing of citizens.

He highlighted that through SADC, countries are making great strides in areas of regional economic cooperation and integration under the frameworks of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030 and SADC’s Vision 2050 aimed at having a peaceful, inclusive, competitive, and middle to high income industrialised region.

He told the delegates that government of Malawi is committed to work tirelessly in the realisation of the goals and objectives of SADC Vision 2050 to achieve aspirations of member states into realities.

The newly appointed chairperson also took time to commend the outgoing leader, Rodrigues Da Costa, for his outstanding performance during his tenure of office

The outgoing chair advised his successor to work on integration in the SADC region.

The position of a chairperson of Standing Committee of SADC is assumed by a member state whose President has assumed chairmanship of SADC and in this case Malawi leader Lazarus Chakwera is set to take over.