Zimpapers Logo

SADC summit (file picture)

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
FIFTEEN Heads of State, five former presidents and about 700 delegates are expected to attend this year’s Sadc Summit slated for Victoria Falls in August, an official said yesterday. The chairperson of the National Organising Committee for the summit, Tedius Chifamba, who is also Secretary for Special Programmes in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the business community, largely made up of tourism operators, officials from government departments and other partners, that President Mugabe would host his counterparts from the Sadc region between August 17 and 18 this year.

He urged Zimbabweans to work diligently towards a successful summit, saying it was an opportunity for the country to prove that Zimbabwe was a safe tourist destination.
“This is a high security event and we should treat it as such. Let us show that we deserve to host such events. About 15 Heads of State, five former heads of state and probably 11 other specially invited guests will attend the summit,” said Chifamba, adding that the country could host several other international conferences as it will be chairing Sadc meetings for three years.

He said about 700 guests are expected to attend the summit.
Preparations for the summit moved a gear up yesterday as the National and Local Organising Committees toured the Victoria Falls Airport and met officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.

Today and tomorrow the delegation will meet hoteliers and tour operators to assess the state of infrastructure ahead of the summit.
The National Steering Committee is chaired by the Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Ray Ndhlukula and comprises permanent secretaries from different ministries.

Acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Albert Chimbandi said the Secretariat would arrive in Victoria Falls on August 4 followed by a meeting of the Finance Sub-Committee on August 7 and 8.

A meeting of Standing Committee of senior officials would be held between August 10 and 12 while the Council of Ministers would meet on August 14 and 15.
Heads of State are expected on August 16 ahead of the Summit the following day.

Chimbandi urged the local organising committee to quickly identify areas of concern to come up with budgetary expectations as the Ministry of Finance needed feedback next week.

Zimbabwe will assume chairmanship of Sadc in August this year until next year after which it will be in the Sadc Troika.