Page 97 - sadc40en

3.2.1 Summit of Heads of State and Government
The functions of the Summit would remain as outlined in the SADC Treaty, and
also the related structures for Council of Ministers and the Standing Committee of
Officials.

3.2.2 Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation
The Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation is a structure established by
the Treaty (Article 9) and reports to Summit. Its operations are guided by the Strategic
Indicative Plan of the Organ (SIPO) and managed through a Troika System at the level
of Heads of State and Government. The structure and strategic orientation of the
Organ is focused in conflict prevention, strengthening democratic processes, and safe-
guarding human security as critical tool for the consolidation of peace and security and
as a precursor to regional sustainable development. The objective of the SADC Organ
on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation is to promote peace and security in the
SADC region.

3.2.3 Troika
The Troika system vests authority between Summits in the SADC Summit Chairper-
son, the Incoming (Deputy) Chairperson and the Outgoing Chairperson. Other
Member States may be co-opted into the Troika as and when necessary. The institu-
tional reform exercise in 2001 decided to formalize this system, which was introduced
at the 1999 SADC Summit held in Maputo, Mozambique. Under the system, SADC
gives the Troika authority to take quick decisions on behalf of SADC that would or- 87
dinarily be taken at policy meetings scheduled at regular intervals, as well as the
power to provide policy direction to SADC institutions between regular SADC Sum-
mits. The Troika system was formalized to operate at the level of the Summit, the
Organ, Council of Ministers and Standing Committee of Officials. The combined
Troika involving the Summit Troika and the Organ Troika is referred to as the
Double Troika.

3.2.4 Integrated Committee of Ministers
The 2001 institutional reforms saw the establishment of the Integrated Committee
of Ministers (ICM) whose main responsibility was to oversee the activities of priority
areas of integration and cooperation. The committee was launched in March 2003
and operated until August 2003 when it was abolished on the grounds that there were
many challenges encountered. These included the low level and degree of participa-
tion of sectoral ministers, lack of clear division of responsibilities between the ICM
and Council of Ministers and limited capacities to operationalise sub-committees
at both national and regional levels. In 2008, the ICM was replaced with Sectoral
and Cluster Ministerial Committees consisting of ministers from each SADC
Member State.