Southern African Research and Documentation Centre

29/05/2024

https://youtu.be/hyvRzsHENAk?si=3m5-kMz54egEWYrR

17/05/2024

SADC’s mission in the DRC is to “neutralize” rebel groups

“Any armed attack perpetrated against one of the States Parties shall be considered a threat to regional peace and security and shall be met with immediate collective action”.

This bold promise contained in Article 6 of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mutual Defence Pact of 2003 is the basis upon which regional leaders agreed to deploy a regional force to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 8 May 2023.

SADC views peace and security as a foundational pillar of the region’s integration, growth and development agenda.

The regional force, known as the SADC Mission in the DRC or SAMIDRC was deployed in the eastern DRC on 15 December 2023.

The mission has a separate mandate from the peacekeeping mission that was already active in the area under the auspices of the United Nations (UN).

“SAMIDRC has an offensive mandate to support the DRC to neutralize negative forces and illegal armed groups in the eastern DRC to restore and maintain peace and security, to create a secure environment as well as protect civilians and their properties under imminent threat or attacks,” said Major General Monwabisi Dyakopu, the commander of SAMIDRC.

Full story:

https://www.sardc.net/en/southern-african-news-features/sadcs-mission-in-the-drc-is-to-neutralize-rebel-groups/

06/05/2024

Zimbabwe is hosting the SADC Summit in August 2024.

The SARDC is inviting your organisation to promote and or showcase its work in a publication that is the most authoritative source of information on SADC - the 2024 SADC Summit Magazine.

Further details on flyer below:

19/04/2024

Since independence, the government has made significant progress in building housing, schools and clinics for the communities. More schools were built, primarily in rural areas, to provide quality education to marginalized communities.

19/04/2024

Presidents Samora Machel of Mozambique (left) and Julius Nyerere of Tanzania supported the liberation of Zimbabwe both morally and technically as they hosted the liberation fighters in their countries, providing diplomatic and material support.
Without their support, and that of Kenneth Kaunda, Seretse Khama, Agostinho Neto and others, South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe could still be fighting that stage of the war for independence. It was a joint effort and many brave and dedicated people paid with their lives.

19/04/2024

Women were a militant force in the liberation of southern Africa, with multiple roles as intelligence officers, diplomats, teachers, as couriers of supplies and food, and as trained military cadres and commanders alongside men.
Since Independence in 1980, women have continued with senior positions in the leadership of the country, as shown above, the Minister of Defence (at left) and Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, at right.

19/04/2024

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National Heroes’ Acre is a monument to the hard won independence of Zimbabwe, born from a protracted liberation struggle. This symbolises the resting places of sons and daughters of the soil who sacrificed their lives, fighting for their right to equality, education and land.

19/04/2024

This unique heritage photo shows the founding President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe (left) in Mozambique during the liberation war, with the ZANLA Commander General Josiah Tongogara (centre) and the first trained guerrilla to enter the country, Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, now President.


@44

ZBC News Online
President Of Zimbabwe.
SAYoF

19/04/2024

18 April 1980 marked Independence for Zimbabwe, when the British flag came down and the new Zimbabwe flag was raised, with the Zimbabwe bird symbolizing the the country’s deep cultural heritage stretching back to Great Zimbabwe and beyond.

This year, 18 April marks the 44th National Independence anniversary of Zimbabwe from British colonial rule. The independence of Zimbabwe was the result of sacrifice and determination of sons and daughters of the soil.

This year’s independence celebrations are running under the theme, “Zim@44: Unity, peace and development towards Vision 2030”. The theme underscores the importance of fostering unity, maintaining peace as a foundation for progress and advancing development in line with the Vision 2030.

25/03/2024

21/03/2024

21 March 2023 marks the 34th national independence anniversary of Namibia from South African apartheid occupation. The defeat of the South African apartheid forces at Cuito Cuanavale led to negotiations involving the United Nations, Angola, Namibia, Cuba and South Africa, among others.
This eventually resulted in a South African withdrawal from Namibia, which returned to UN mandate for a transitional period leading to elections for a Constituent Assembly, and Independence two years later, on 21 March 1990. This was followed by democratic elections in South Africa four years later, on 27 April 1994.

12/03/2024

UNESCO ROSA in collaboration with SADC and SARDC intends to preserve the archives, decolonize historical research and methodologies, develop content for formal and non-formal education systems with the production of twelve pedagogical modules which incorporate print and related videos as well as social media messages, and to engage the youth, media, and civil society through online interaction. SARDC has identified more than 200 liberation archives throughout SADC member states and online, and this information is contained in a publication titled Preserving Memory of African Liberation through Access to Heritage Archives, available in print and online through the partners’ websites and social media.

12/03/2024

Speaking about the liberation of Africa remaining true to its roots, the founding President of Mozambique Samora Machel emphasized the central place of women, saying: “The emancipation of women is not an act of charity, the result of a humanitarian or compassionate attitude. The liberation of women is a fundamental necessity for the revolution, a guarantee of its continuity and a precondition for its victory.”

08/03/2024

Women were a militant force in the liberation of southern Africa, with multiple roles as intelligence officers, diplomats, negotiators, couriers of supplies and food, teachers and medics, as well as trained cadres and commanders alongside men. The region can benefit significantly from tapping lessons from the experiences of these courageous women who sacrificed for the liberation of their individual countries and the region. However, the stories of the experiences and perspectives of the women who participated in liberating the region has not been sufficiently collected or shared. It is essential to ensure that women share their vision and experiences in order to have a holistic appreciation of the shared historical past towards a common future.

08/03/2024

Southern Africa is collectively defined by its values of Ubuntu (Hunhu, Utu) which consider that individuals do not exist alone but with others, in a shared community. That solidarity defined the resistance to colonial occupation and later the liberation struggle against colonial domination, racial discrimination, and institutional apartheid, when men, women and youth fought for justice, dignity, and equality. The liberation movements have left a rich heritage of regional and international solidarity that is shaping life today at a national and regional level. Yet this rich experience is not being taught or disseminated to the next generations.

Southern African Liberation History aims to use the rich regional history of cooperation among SADC member states during the emergence from colonialism and apartheid, to address contemporary challenges of intolerance, xenophobia and discrimination, through invoking the cooperation and solidarity that overcame the insurmountable barriers of that time. Another objective is to promote intercultural and intergenerational dialogue and civic education among the youth of the region, while encouraging them to regain and explore the knowledge of the regional dimensions and linkages of their shared history, so they can strengthen and consolidate regional integration.

08/03/2024

The joint initiative of UNESCO/SADC/SARDC on Southern African Liberation History (SALH) emerges from an Experts Meeting on this subject held on 24-25 April 2018 in Windhoek, Namibia, organized by UNESCO ROSA and SARDC, and hosted by the National Assembly of Namibia. This was the first step in the launch of a regional programme on NLM Heritage following the decision by SADC Ministers the previous year to add liberation history to the schools curriculum in Member States. The programme aims to use the rich regional history of the emergence from colonialism and apartheid to address contemporary challenges of intolerance, xenophobia and discrimination faced by the people of Southern Africa, and to promote intercultural dialogue and civic education among the youth of the region, while encouraging them to regain and explore the knowledge of their common and shared history, thus strengthening and consolidating regional integration.

08/03/2024

The conference on “HERstory: Heroines in the liberation struggles in Southern Africa”, organized by UNESCO’s Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) with the support of the Ministry of Combatants of Mozambique and the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC), was a valuable platform for sharing stories and experiences of women in the liberation from colonialism and apartheid, in the pursuit of equality, dignity, justice and freedom.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) region can benefit significantly from exploring the regional dimensions and linkages of the national liberation movements in southern Africa, sharing knowledge of their common history and the experiences of the sons and daughters who dedicated their lives to the liberation of their national communities and the region. The stories and experiences of the women who participated in this struggle for Independence are an important aspect that has not been sufficiently collected or shared. It is essential to ensure that the stories of women and from the perspective of women are collected in order to have a balanced appreciation of the shared historical past for a common future.
This conference was timely in aligning with the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Maputo Protocol (Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa), a powerful beacon for promoting the participation of women in political and decision-making processes.

07/03/2024

Buoyant mood as South Africa prepares for national elections

South Africans are keen to vote in the national and provincial elections on 29 May 2024 where they will elect members of the National Assembly and provincial parliaments.

The President of the country is not directly voted into office but is elected by the National Assembly, and is usually the leader of the party that has a majority in the house.

The African National Congress (ANC) has dominated polls since democratic elections and majority rule ended the system of institutionalized apartheid in 1994.

This year, the main opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are optimistic about increasing their representation due to economic challenges that the country has faced in the past five years.

More: https://www.sardc.net/en/southern-african-news-features/buoyant-mood-as-south-africa-prepares-for-national-elections/

05/03/2024

Full plate for SADC Council of Ministers meeting in Angola

The SADC Council of Ministers has its hands full when it convenes on 10-11 March 2024 in Angola to review progress made in the past six months in pursuit of the regional integration agenda.

The agenda will include the resourcing of the SADC Secretariat, the industrialization drive, peace and security as well as the food security situation, the cholera outbreak, and impending elections in some member states.

The Council of Ministers is preceded by the Standing Committee of Senior Officials which functions as the technical advisory body for the ministers and will meet from 4-5 March.

The Finance Committee meets on 6 March.

Full story.....https://www.herald.co.zw/full-plate-for-sadc-council-of.../

22/02/2024

SARDC Chairman and Speaker of the National Assembly of Namibia, Hon Prof Peter Katjavivi with late President Hage Geingob of Namibia

16/02/2024

The UN Institute for Namibia, known as UNIN, was established in Lusaka, Zambia in 1975 to train young Namibians who could take up administrative positions at independence, and develop a policy framework for independent Namibia. The Founding Director of UNIN was Dr. Hage G. Geingob, who served for the duration of the institute from 1975-1989.
Dr. Geingob was a member of the Central Committee and Politburo of SWAPO, chosen to head SWAPO’s campaign for the pre-independence elections, as Director of Elections, so he returned home on 18 June 1989 after 27 years in exile.
Following election victory, he was elected Chairman of the Constituent Assembly to formulate the new Constitution of Namibia, which was adopted on 9 February 1990, leading to independence on 21 March 1990. As the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia, he introduced a modern management approach to government.
Dr. Geingob was elected President of SWAPO in 2014, and he was sworn in as President of Namibia on 21 March 2015.

05/02/2024

Eduardo Mondlane, the founding father of Mozambique and first leader of FRELIMO, was assassinated in Dar es Salaam when he opened a parcel bomb sent by the colonial Portuguese authorities in 1969 on 3 February, now Heroes Day in Mozambique.

His comrades continued the liberation war, under the leadership of Samora Machel, until they achieved independence on 25 June 1975.

05/02/2024

26/01/2024

2024 – An opportunity for SADC to accelerate industrialisation

The year 2024 presents an opportunity for SADC to accelerate progress towards the attainment of an “inclusive, competitive, middle-to-high-income industrialized region, where all citizens enjoy sustainable economic wellbeing, justice and freedom in a secure environment.”

The new year affords regional leaders a chance to fast-track the implementation of the industrialisation drive, a vital aspect of the regional development agenda, adopted 10 years ago.

The SADC Secretariat, led by the Executive Secretary, H.E Elias Magosi remains the engine for the regional integration agenda, requiring support from Member States and all stakeholders.

Industrialisation has been at the core of regional development for the past decade since the 34th SADC Summit held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in August 2014. A special summit on industrialisation during Zimbabwe’s presidency led to the adoption of the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063.

Very few SADC member states are yet in a position to process their raw materials, due to the legacy of skewed colonial development, with the value addition taking place elsewhere. This is not only creating employment outside the region, but also keeping profits outside to the disadvantage of the inhabitants of the region.

Through industrialisation, the region is targeting to increase manufactured exports to at least 50 percent of total exports by the year 2030, from less than 20 percent at present. The aim is also to grow the regional Gross Domestic Product to seven percent annually from the current rate of around four percent.

The initiative is expected to create more job opportunities, especially for the youth and improve the region’s average unemployment rate which has fluctuated between 10.2 percent and 11.3 percent between 2009 and 2020.

With Zimbabwe, where it all started, set to become the chair of SADC again at the 44th Ordinary Summit in August this year, the region has the opportunity to look back on how far it has come, and what needs to be done to fast-track the industrialisation agenda and fine tune it if necessary.

18/01/2024

Patrice Lumumba`s letter to Pauline Lumumba, December 1960

18/01/2024

“Africa will write its own history and in both north and south of the Sahara it will be a history full of glory and dignity.” Patrice Lumumba

This publication on Youth in the Liberation Struggle and Beyond, together with a short video and a widely accessed social media campaign, form the pilot Module 1 of a series titled Respecting the P…

21/12/2023

Tanzania is the only SADC Member State with a Head of State and Government who is a woman, and who has been a leader in appointing and encouraging more women to take key decision-making positions. Her Excellency President Samia Suluhu Hassan, became the 6th President of the United Republic of Tanzania in March 2021 after the death of her predecessor, H.E. President John Pombe Magufuli.
She is the first woman to hold that post in Tanzania. Prior to becoming President, she was the first woman Vice-President, in office since November 2015. President Hassan is the third woman in the SADC region to occupy the post of Head of State, all in the past decade.

21/12/2023

In 2019, the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government adopted Kiswahili as the fourth Official Working Language of SADC in honour of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, in addition to English, French and Portuguese. Kiswahili is among the fastest growing languages and widely spoken in some parts of central and southern Africa, Kiswahili has historical roots and value to SADC as it was the unifying language used during the liberation struggle.

21/12/2023

“I then truly realised that I was in a country ruled by Africans. For the first time in my life, I was a free man … I felt the burden of oppression lifting from my shoulders …” Mandela on arriving in Tanganyika in early 1962. He returned to South Africa, and this photo shows his next visit to Tanzania after release from prison in 1991, meeting Julius and Maria Nyerere.

21/12/2023

“This is the day for which we have looked so long, the day when every Tanganyikan can say ‘I am a citizen of a sovereign, independent state.’ ” Julius Nyerere at the independence ceremony on 9 December 1961