THE Southern Africa Peoples’ Solidarity Network (SAPSN) is set to host a People’s Summit to shadow the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government on 17 August, 2024, in Harare.
Under the theme "Reclaiming SADC for People’s Development: Building People Power, Voice and Agency towards Democracy and Inclusion," the meeting aims to provide a platform for marginalised groups to express their concerns and demands.
Hundreds of activists, community leaders and representatives from across the region will converge to discuss critical issues such as climate justice, economic inequality, gender rights, governance and natural resource management.
The SADC People's Summit is held every year alongside the SADC Heads of State Summit.
"It is a treasured space for diverse social movements, community-based organisations, churches, labour, women's organisations, youth organisations, regional and international solidarity partners to gather in solidarity, reclaim agency and express the voices of poor and marginalised groups in the region.
"To this end, hundreds of people from around the Region will gather alongside their Zimbabwean counterparts to exchange views and formulate a people centred regional position to be presented to SADC leaders as they gather for the 44th SADC Heads of State Summit," reads a Communique by SAPSN.
The themes for this year's summit are Climate Justice; Economic Justice; Gender Justice and Women's Rights; Governance, Democracy and Human Rights; Natural Resource Governance, Youth and Students Movements; Social Movement Building and Essential Services: Health, Education, Water and Sanitation.
The conference comes amid a tense political climate in Zimbabwe, with the government deploying heavy security forces in anticipation of potential protests.
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Scores of opposition activists have already been arrested, raising concerns about the government's commitment to democratic freedoms.
Meanwhile, SAPSN hopes to present a consolidated communique outlining the concerns of civil society to SADC leaders, calling for a more people-centred approach to regional development.
