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2004-2005
The 24 SADC Summit was held in Grand Baie, Mauritius on 16-17
th
August 2004 hosted and chaired by Prime Minister Paul Raymond
Bérènger.

Energy Crisis by 2007 due to Low Generation Capacity
On energy, the Summit observed that the power supply in the
SADC region will reach crisis levels by 2007 unless steps are
taken to increase the power generation capacity. Several
Member States have submitted projects for the expansion of
power-generation capacity in short and long-term priority
plans covering 2005-2010 and 2011-2020 respectively, and the
Summit urged Member States to fast-track the implementation
of short-term priority generation projects, particularly the
expansion of the Inga Site project and Renewables.

HIV and AIDS
The 24th Summit stated that the HIV and AIDS pandemic has reached crisis proportions
in the region, with the contributing factors of poverty, gender inequality, illiteracy, stigma
and discrimination, inadequate healthcare delivery, and substance abuse. In emphasising
the importance of nutrition and traditional medicine in addressing health challenges
and particularly HIV and AIDS, the Summit established a Ministerial Committee on
traditional medicine to make proposals for research on the safety, efficacy and use in
addressing major diseases and for nutritional supplements. 51

SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections
The Summit adopted the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic
Elections which aim to enhance the transparency and credibility of elections and
governance as well as ensuring the acceptance of election results by all contesting
parties, thus constituting a basis for the assessment of electoral processes in
Member States, motivated by the provisions of the SADC Treaty of 1992,
Articles 4 and 5. These Guidelines provide the principles and responsibilities for
the conduct of elections, and specify the procedures for constituting SADC
Electoral Observation Missions (SEOMs) following an invitation from a
Member State, as well as a code of conduct for election observers.

SADC Hashim Mbita Project
The Summit stressed the urgency of the Hashim Mbita Project,
which is intended to document the experiences of the Liberation
Struggle in Southern Africa. Implementation started in 2005
including mobilisation of resources, and the project was operational in eight
countries leading to a 9-volume publication launched in 2014. The project was
funded entirely by SADC governments.

Pan­African Parliament
The Summit congratulated South Africa for successfully bidding for the hosting
of the Pan-African Parliament, and United Republic of Tanzania for the appointment of
Hon. Gertrude Mongella as the first President of the Parliament. The Pan-African
Parliament is one of the organs of the African Union as set out by the Treaty establishing
the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty).