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First Appeal for Drought Relief 1983-84
The Summit hosted by Mozambique in July 1983 noted that the previous agricultural season
had suffered one of the worst droughts in living memory, which severely reduced crop yields.
This impacted on food security and foreign exchange earnings, and coincided with the
deepest global recession in half a century, hampering agriculture and related industrial de-
velopment. For many Member States this was the worst crisis of its kind since independence,
and an impediment to SADCC formation. Estimates indicated that US$230 million was
needed for drought relief, water programmes and cattle purchase schemes, but there was
no mechanism to address this at regional level.

First Appeal to Reduce Support for Apartheid South Africa
Summit noted that apartheid South Africa was taking advantage of this situation to increase
its aggressive policy of destabilisation through economic and military sabotage. Summit
also noted that SADCC has sought friendly relations with the international community and
that a significant transfer of resources that go to shoring up apartheid should be used for
the development of neighbouring countries, as an investment in peace and stability, and an
investment in the future. Summit said it is irrational for such countries to invest in regional
infrastructure only to see these resources wasted by South African sabotage.

Decision to Elect a Summit Chairperson 1984-85
The SADCC Summit in Botswana in July 1984 took a decision to elect a
Chairperson. Botswana was elected under the new arrangement to chair the
Summit and Council of Ministers for the next three years, and was re-elected 29
for subsequent three-year terms in 1987, 1990 and 1993 to chair the meet-
ings of SADCC and its successor SADC. The President of Botswana, H.E.
Sir Quett Ketumile Joni Masire chaired SADCC and SADC until 1996.

Progress toward Economic Liberation 1985-86
The Summit in August 1985 hosted in Arusha by the United Republic of Tanzania noted
the progress in all sectors of the SADCC Programme of Action as a result of five years of co-
operation, supported by the international community.

New initiative needed to End the Violence of Apartheid
The Summit condemned the violence perpetrated by apartheid South Africa against the
people of South Africa and the region, particularly the mounting loss of life, and agreed that
a new initiative is urgently needed to end the violence, the occupation of Namibia, and the
acts of destabilisation against neighbours.
Tradition of Farewell to Retiring Heads of State – Mwalimu Nyerere
The 1985 Summit bade farewell to Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, who was stepping
down as President of the United Republic of Tanzania. This was officially the start of the
tradition of bidding farewell to retiring Heads of State and Government. The leaders paid
tribute to Mwalimu Nyerere for his important role in the creation and development of
SADCC, and recorded with appreciation his great contribution to the cause of African lib-
eration, spanning 25 years, and to human dignity and equality in general.

Regional Resource Centre Established
The Frontline States conceived the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre
(SARDC) with Mwalimu Julius Nyerere as Founding Patron, to collect regional and historical
documentation, share information across borders, track and expose South African destabil-
isation of neighbouring countries, and support the work of their new SADCC with regional
policy research, with headquarters in Zimbabwe and offices in Mozambique and United Re-
public of Tanzania.