A little bit of its history

The SADC was precursured by the SADCC (Southern African Development Coordinating Conference) established on 1st April 1980 in Zambia. Later in 1992 it was trasnsformed into the SADC.

The SADCC was formed to reduce the dependence on South Africa in the Aparheid era and to advance in the cause of national political liberation of Southern Africa. Its four principal objectives were:

• Reduction of Member State dependence on Aparheid SouthAfrica
• Forging of linkages to create genuine and equitable regional integration
• Mobilisation of Member States’ resources to promote the implementation of national, interstate and regional policies
• Concerted action to secure international cooperation within the framework of the strategy for economic liberation

The transformation from the SADCC to SADC was formalized in the SADC Tready in which the main goals of the organization and its mechanism are set. The organization had five main institutions (Summits of Heads of Institutions/Council of Ministers/A Standing Comittee of Officials/Secretariat/Tribunal) until the SADC Tready Amendement in 2001 when it changed into the institutions explained in the first post.

In this treaty was also amended with an agreement that established the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) which was based on strategic priorities of SADC common Agenda and was designed to provide strategic direction with respect to SADC projects.