Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General from Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states have called for enhanced regional legal cooperation and accelerated implementation of regional legal instruments to strengthen governance, uphold the rule of law and advance regional integration.
The call emerged from the Meeting of the SADC Committee of Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on 5 June, where delegates reviewed progress on key legal and institutional matters affecting the regional bloc.
In a statement yesterday, the SADC Secretariat said the ministers underscored the importance of member states signing, ratifying, acceding to and implementing SADC legal instruments as a critical step towards achieving the organisation’s regional integration agenda.
“The Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General from SADC Member States called for strengthened regional cooperation, including the signing, ratification, accession to, and implementation of SADC legal instruments,” the SADC Secretariat said.
According to the Secretariat, the objective is “to reinforce governance, uphold the rule of law, and advance regional integration across the SADC region.”
The gathering was attended by key regional leaders, including South Africa’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Chairperson of the Committee, Mmamoloko Kubayi, Zimbabwe’s Attorney General, Virginia Mabiza, and SADC Executive Secretary, Elias Magosi.
“The meeting provided an opportunity to review progress on key legal and institutional matters and to provide strategic direction on enhancing legal cooperation in support of SADC objectives.
Participants emphasised the importance of fully implementing SADC legal instruments to strengthen judicial systems and deepen regional integration,” the Secretariat added.
Meanwhile, delegates also deliberated on proposed amendments to the SADC Treaty, proposed amendments to the SADC Protocol on Legal Affairs, proposals for the establishment of the SADC Pharmaceuticals Pooled Procurement Services, and the draft agreement establishing the SADC Tourism UNIVISA.
The discussions come as SADC intensifies efforts to harmonise legal frameworks and strengthen institutional cooperation among member states to facilitate trade, investment, movement of people and collective socio-economic development across the region.
