SADC Finance Ministers to Convene in Victoria Falls for Crucial Regional Economic Talks
Finance ministers from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are set to meet in Victoria Falls next week for critical discussions aimed at fast-tracking regional financial integration and boosting economic convergence among member states. The high-level meetings will feature the Committee of Ministers of Finance and Investment, alongside the influential Peer Review Panel composed of finance ministers and central bank governors.
Central to the agenda is the long-anticipated operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund—a key financial mechanism poised to unlock significant funding for infrastructure projects across the region. According to a statement from the SADC Secretariat, the primary focus of the meetings will be to review progress on existing initiatives that promote the integration and development of financial markets throughout the Southern African region.
Ministers will also deliberate on frameworks for sustainable project preparation and development. Strengthening Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) systems will be another top priority, ensuring the region’s financial infrastructure remains credible, secure, and globally compliant.
The SADC Secretariat noted that the outcomes of the meeting will be instrumental in shaping future investments and financial integration efforts. Ministers will consider updates on the status of SADC legal instruments, review cross-border third-party motor vehicle insurance schemes, and evaluate the bloc’s participation in the Committee of Insurance, Securities, and Non-Banking Financial Authorities (CISNA), which oversees regulation across multiple financial sectors.
As part of the Peer Review Panel’s mandate, macroeconomic performance assessments for Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo will be conducted. These reviews are a critical component of the SADC Macroeconomic Convergence Peer Review Mechanism, which supports member states in achieving shared economic targets. The panel is also expected to finalise assessments from the 2024 Convergence Programme, offering insights into the region’s collective progress toward economic stability.
Another key focus area will be the implications of global geopolitical shifts and how these affect SADC economies. The region is increasingly looking to reinforce economic resilience in light of a volatile international environment.
Preceding the ministerial meetings, SADC Senior Treasury Officials are scheduled to convene on 9 June, followed by joint consultations with central bank representatives on 10 June. These preliminary discussions are expected to feed into the main sessions, laying the groundwork for decisions that could drive deeper regional cooperation and more robust, integrated financial markets.
The outcomes of the Victoria Falls meetings will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of economic policy and financial development in Southern Africa, setting the stage for greater regional cohesion and long-term growth.
