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Handover of SADC RPTC
During the Summit, Zimbabwe officially handed over the Regional Peacekeeping Training
Centre to SADC, a facility established to harmonise peacekeeping training in the SADC
region. The Centre was presented by President Mugabe to the SADC Executive Secretary
Dr. Tax, who thanked Zimbabwe for donating the facility to SADC as it plays a pivotal
role in the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the region, as a prerequisite for
development.

Brig­Gen (Rtd) Hashim Mbita
The Extra-Ordinary SADC Summit in April 2015 conveyed heartfelt
condolences to the family, people and Government of the United
Republic of Tanzania on the death of Ambassador Brig-General (Rtd)
Hashim Mbita saying that “he immensely contributed towards the
liberation of the SADC Region in particular, and Africa in general.”
He was awarded SADC’s highest honour, the Seretse Khama SADC
Medal, in 2010.

TFTA and CFTA
The Summit noted the forthcoming launch of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA),
and endorsed principles to guide SADC in finalising the Declaration Launching Phase II
Negotiations. The Summit called for finalisation of the Roadmap and work programme
on the Tripartite Industrialisation Pillar, and adopted a common SADC position for
66 negotiations on a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA).
Launch of Tripartite Free Trade Area
The Tripartite Free Trade Area of COMESA, EAC and SADC was launched with the
signing of the Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement and Political Declaration at the 3rd
Tripartite Summit on 10 June 2015 in Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, bringing together 26
member countries, half of the
countries on the continent, into a
formidable trading bloc with a
population of 600 million people
and a combined GDP of US$1
trillion, which will serve as a
building block of an African
Economic Community. The SADC
Executive Secretary, Dr Stergomena
Lawrence Tax is chairing the
Tripartite Task Force for the next
period from July 2015, with the
objective of speedy implementation
of integration programmes.

SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (Revised 2015)
The SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections were revised and
approved in 2015 following broad consultations by the SADC Electoral Advisory Council
(SEAC) with Member States and other stakeholders and electoral experts. The revised
guidelines laid out the responsibilities of the Member States and the SADC Secretariat,
the role of SEAC before, during and after elections, and the responsibilities and
deployment of SADC Electoral Observation Missions (SEOMs), including a Code of
Conduct. After a process that sought to enhance the Principles and Guidelines adopted in
2004, the revised guidelines were approved on 20 July 2015 in Pretoria, South Africa by
the 17th Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defence and
Security Cooperation.