Southern African Research and Documentation Centre

𝗣𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗧𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗘 𝗛𝗜𝗚𝗛-𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟 𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 𝗢𝗡 𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗚𝗬, 𝗢𝗜𝗟 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗚𝗔𝗦 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗧𝗨𝗗𝗬 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗟𝗢𝗕𝗜𝗧𝗢 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗬 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗢𝗟𝗔

𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗔-𝗘𝗔𝗖-#𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗺𝗲 The COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite, through its Capacity Building and Awareness initiative for the Tripartite Simplified Trade Regime (TSTR), is conducting a capacity-building programme for border officials at the Chiponde–Mandimba border post between Malawi and Mozambique from 8–9 September 2026. The programme seeks to strengthen the capacity of customs and revenue authorities, immigration officers, police, clearing agents, trade officials and cross-border traders to facilitate small-scale cross-border trade, particularly along the Nacala Corridor and major Malawi–Mozambique trade routes. The TSTR, developed under the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), seeks to simplify and harmonise existing Simplified Trade Regimes across COMESA, EAC and SADC. It aims to reduce trade costs and administrative barriers, formalise informal trade, strengthen regional value chains and improve market access, with particular benefits for women and youth. During the workshop, traders raised concerns about customs valuation of goods purchased from border villages, where receipts are often unavailable and well as higher-than-actual customs valuations of goods increasing the VAT, thereby reducing traders' profit margins. Authorities also highlighted security and regulatory compliance challenges, including the risk of prohibited, counterfeit or harmful goods being concealed within legitimate consignments. Participants discussed the need to balance effective inspection and enforcement with the facilitation of legitimate small-scale trade. The programme also provides an important platform to increase awareness and visibility of the TSTR among traders, border authorities and communities. The initiative supports the broader objectives of the AfCFTA, AU Agenda 2063, COMESA, EAC and SADC regional integration agendas and receives technical and financial support from AGRA. The capacity-building programme will continue at the Calomue–Dedza border posts between Malawi and Mozambique from 11–12 September 2026. Together, these activities form part of broader Tripartite efforts to strengthen stakeholder capacity, facilitate trade along key regional corridors and support effective implementation of the TSTR. @EliasMagosi @AngeleMakombo @sardcnet @DIRCO_ZA

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮: 𝗦𝗘𝗢𝗠 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘀 With Zambia’s General Elections only two days away, the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) devoted 11 August 2026 to listening to voices from across the country’s political, civil society, legal and international community. The Mission engaged Reverend Sambo, Vice-President of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD)/New National Party; Mr Gideon Musonda, Executive Director of Governance, Elections Research Services (GEARS) and Chairperson of the Zambia Council of NGOs; the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Zambia; the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Zambia; Human Rights Commission of Zambia; and the leadership of the Law Association of Zambia. During the engagement with UNDP Zambia, discussions highlighted efforts to promote the inclusive participation of all citizens in the electoral process, safeguard electoral integrity and support a peaceful electoral environment. UNDP Zambia also shared its work in supporting electoral law and policy reforms, strategic communication and the development of gender-responsive and inclusive policies. Each engagement brought a distinct perspective to the Mission’s understanding of Zambia’s electoral landscape from political participation, justice and democratic governance to electoral preparedness, inclusion and peace. The insights gathered will complement the observations of SEOM teams deployed across all Zambia,s Provinces and contribute to the Mission’s independent and impartial assessment of the electoral process.

𝐌𝐨𝐳𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐀𝐃𝐂 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐞 The Republic of Mozambique has launched the inaugural SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA) Wildlife Managers and Rangers Training (WMRT) Programme. The pilot initiative, being held at Maputo National Park, marks a significant milestone in strengthening regional cooperation and enhancing professional standards in wildlife conservation across Southern Africa. The programme was officially opened by a representative of the Administração Nacional das Áreas de Conservação (ANAC) of Mozambique. Speaking during the opening ceremony, Ms. Ndapanda Kanime, Senior Programme Officer for Natural Resources and Wildlife at the SADC Secretariat, described the training as “a strategic investment in people and collaboration.” She noted that the programme will equip wildlife managers and rangers with the leadership, technical competencies and practical skills required to safeguard the region’s globally significant natural resources. She further emphasised that the lessons learned from this pilot initiative will inform the rollout of similar programmes across other SADC Transfrontier Conservation Areas. The training, delivered by the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC), is taking place from 1 to 14 July 2026. It supports protected area management within Maputo National Park in the Lubombo TFCA, as well as Banhine, Limpopo and Zinave National Parks in Mozambique, and Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe. The SADC Secretariat expressed its appreciation to the Government of Germany for funding the initiative and acknowledged the valuable support of the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Administração Nacional das Áreas de Conservação (ANAC), and the Peace Parks Foundation. The Secretariat also commended the Southern African Wildlife College for its leadership and technical expertise in delivering the pilot programme. As part of the initiative, Senior Rangers from Banhine, Zinave, Limpopo and Maputo National Parks in Mozambique, together with Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, are participating in a 14-day Protected Area Management Coordinator (PAMCO) Training. The intensive course is designed to strengthen their leadership, management and operational skills, enabling them to effectively lead ranger teams and improve the management and conservation of their respective protected areas.

𝗦𝗔𝗗𝗖 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝟱𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 The Southern African Development Community (SADC) congratulates the Government and people of the Republic of Seychelles, a Member State of SADC, on the occasion of its 50th Independence Anniversary today 29 June 2026. Since joining SADC in 1997, Seychelles’ contribution reflects its deep commitment to regional cooperation, integration and development. On this memorable occasion of the Golden Jubilee of its independence, SADC salutes the Seychellois people for 50 years of peace, unity and progress. We wish Seychelles continued prosperity, harmony and success as it enters its next chapter of development.