Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General will convene in Victoria Falls on 5 June for a high-level meeting expected to shape the future of regional legal cooperation, judicial reforms, tourism integration and public health systems.
The meeting, hosted by Zimbabwe with support from the SADC Secretariat, comes amid renewed efforts by the regional bloc to strengthen governance frameworks and harmonise laws among member states.
In a statement yesterday, the SADC Secretariat said the Committee of Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General would review progress on legal and institutional matters affecting the region and provide strategic oversight on regional governance initiatives.
South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Mmamoloko Kubayi, will chair the meeting in her capacity as head of the Committee of Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General.
“The ministers will review progress on various legal and institutional matters within the region,” said the Secretariat.
A major highlight of the meeting will be deliberations on the long-awaited re-operationalisation of the SADC Tribunal, which has remained inactive for years following disputes over its jurisdiction and powers.
Regional legal experts view the revival of the Tribunal as a critical step towards strengthening adherence to the SADC Treaty and improving enforcement of regional legal instruments.
“The Tribunal remains one of the region’s most significant legal and governance issues,” the Secretariat noted.
Ministers are also expected to consider several draft legal instruments for submission to the SADC Council of Ministers and ultimately the Summit of Heads of State and Government for approval.
Among the key proposals is the Draft Charter Establishing the SADC Pharmaceuticals Pooled Procurement Services, aimed at coordinating the bulk procurement of medicines and medical commodities across member states.
According to the Secretariat, the initiative seeks to reduce procurement costs and improve access to essential medicines throughout Southern Africa.
“The proposed institution seeks to coordinate pooled procurement of medicines and health commodities across Southern Africa to reduce costs and improve access to essential medicines among Member States,” read part of the statement.
Regional tourism integration will also feature prominently through discussions on the Draft Agreement Establishing the SADC Tourism UNIVISA.
The proposed UNIVISA framework is intended to simplify travel procedures for tourists visiting participating SADC countries, a move tourism stakeholders believe could stimulate regional tourism, trade and economic integration.
Ahead of the ministerial meeting, senior legal officials from member states will meet from 1 to 4 June to prepare technical recommendations and legal submissions for consideration by ministers. Outcomes of the Victoria Falls gathering could significantly influence regional legal integration, cross-border cooperation and institutional reforms within SADC.
