MWE Correspondent
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) witnessed a significant leadership transition during its 45th Ordinary Summit, held on August 17, 2025, in Antananarivo, Madagascar, as Tanzania handed over the chairmanship of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation to Malawi.
The handover marked the end of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s tenure at the helm of one of the bloc’s most crucial bodies, which is tasked with fostering stability, security, and political dialogue across the region. President Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi officially assumed the role, with the understanding that leadership will later pass to King Mswati III of Eswatini.
During the session, regional leaders paid tribute to President Samia’s contribution to peace and security, particularly her efforts in supporting mediation processes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a region that has faced ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises. Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa described her leadership as “exemplary and dedicated,” noting her ability to strengthen unity within the bloc.
The Organ, one of the three core institutions of SADC, plays a central role in promoting good governance, conflict resolution, and collective defense strategies. By chairing the Organ, Tanzania had carried a heavy responsibility—one that required balancing diplomatic engagement with pressing security concerns.
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Malawi’s President Chakwera, in his acceptance remarks, pledged to continue building on the foundation laid by Tanzania, promising to keep the region focused on peace initiatives and political stability. His leadership will also prepare the ground for Eswatini, whose King Mswati III is set to inherit the role in the next cycle.
The summit in Madagascar was not just a ceremonial transition of roles. It carried deeper meaning for the region’s long-term stability. Leaders reaffirmed their collective resolve to pursue peace in areas of conflict, strengthen cross-border security cooperation, and align political governance with the region’s development agenda.
For Tanzania, the transition was also a moment of pride. President Samia’s leadership was widely recognized as a steadying influence at a time when the region grappled with complex political and security challenges.
Leadership may rotate, but the commitment to collective peace and security remains firmly in place—anchoring the region’s pursuit of stability and prosperity.
