SADC chief warns Southern Africa must invest in resilience or risk instability

Elias Magosi, the head of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has warned that the region must invest in resilience or face potential instability. During the SADC Council of Ministers' meeting in Durban on Wednesday, Magosi emphasized the need for deeper trust, stronger cooperation, and decisive investment in resilience to ensure the region's future.

The meeting, which is a preparatory body ahead of the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, came as South Africa's interim leader, Ronald Lamola, guided the bloc through a period of transition. Lamola has continued advancing key priorities including peace, security, and migration under his guidance. Magosi highlighted progress in energy generation, digital connectivity, and agricultural recovery, with the region adding over 4,800 megawatts of new generation capacity in the past year.

Internet penetration rose to 57.2 percent and mobile penetration exceeded 95 percent, while agricultural growth rebounded to between 2 and 3 percent, with food insecurity reduced by 16 percent. Despite these gains, Magosi cautioned that climate shocks, aging infrastructure, and underfunded innovation could stall integration. He urged the region to shift from reactive disaster responses to proactive resilience, investing in strengthened early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, and anticipatory planning.

Magosi stressed the importance of youth-driven agribusiness and innovation, calling on governments to integrate youth priorities into agricultural investment plans. On governance, Magosi reaffirmed SADC's commitment to peace and democracy, welcoming Zambia's upcoming general elections. He expressed solidarity with Zambia and confidence in the elections strengthening peace, unity, and stability.

Magosi concluded by reminding ministers that integration is ultimately about improving lives, creating opportunities, strengthening connections, and improving the quality of life for citizens.