Deputy Minister Mnangagwa to Open SADC Statistics Committee Meeting in Victoria Falls

Deputy Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion David Kudakwashe Mnangagwa will on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, officially open the annual SADC Statistics Committee meeting in the iconic resort town of Victoria Falls. Hosted by the SADC Secretariat in collaboration with the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), the gathering brings together the region’s statistical leadership to drive forward harmonised data systems and regional integration goals.

Sixteen Director-Generals of National Statistics Offices from across the Southern African Development Community have converged on Victoria Falls to review progress on key regional statistical initiatives. Over the next three days, the Committee will assess implementation of the Regional Strategy for the Development of Statistics (RSDS), deliberate on the harmonisation of statistical methodologies, and explore ways to strengthen technical capacity within member states.

A central focus of the meeting will be accelerating the signing and ratification of the SADC Protocol on Statistics, approved by the Summit of Heads of State and Government in August 2021. By fast-tracking this instrument, SADC aims to ensure that all member states commit to common standards for data collection, analysis and dissemination, thereby improving the availability of accurate, timely and comparable statistics to inform policymaking and monitor progress towards development goals.

Under the stewardship of the SADC Secretariat and ZimStat, the Committee will examine regional indicators spanning economic, social and environmental domains. Discussions will centre on best practices for data sharing, strategies to fill persistent data gaps, and approaches for coordinating multicountry surveys. Strengthening the institutional framework of National Statistics Offices remains a top priority, with technical working groups set to propose capacity-building programmes and peer-review mechanisms designed to elevate statistical competencies across the region.

Deputy Minister Mnangagwa’s opening address is expected to emphasise the vital role of evidence-based decision-making in driving sustainable development and regional integration. By underscoring the link between robust statistical systems and effective economic planning, Mnangagwa will call on member states to deepen collaboration, invest in modern data infrastructures, and embrace innovative methodologies, including the use of geospatial tools and real-time data analytics.

In addition to plenary sessions, the meeting agenda includes dedicated workshops on advancing gender statistics, measuring the informal economy, and mainstreaming climate-related data into national reporting frameworks. These thematic clusters reflect SADC’s commitment to leave no one behind, ensure resilience in the face of climate shocks, and capture the full complexity of Southern Africa’s diverse economies.

As the SADC region strives to achieve its regional integration milestones and Sustainable Development Goals, the outcomes of this Statistics Committee meeting will play a defining role. By aligning statistical efforts, enhancing data quality, and forging a shared vision for the Protocol on Statistics, SADC member states will be better positioned to track progress, identify emerging trends, and respond swiftly to development challenges. The Victoria Falls meeting thus marks a pivotal moment in the region’s journey toward a unified, data-driven future.