DURBAN - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Chairperson, Cyril Ramaphosa, says peace and development need to work together if the region is to achieve lasting stability.
Ramaphosa is calling for greater investment in preventative diplomacy and dialogue to help address political challenges.
He made these remarks at the SADC Summit in Durban earlier.
Ramaphosa said there should be active resolution of differences that may exist through dialogue and act collectively whenever peace and stability of the region is threatened.
" Peace without development is fragile. Development without peace is impossible. We must continue to invest in preventative dip-diplomacy, mediation, and political dialogues to solve political challenges and problems,” he said.
The 46th SADC Summit is convened under the theme, “Resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World”.
As the supreme policy-making body of SADC, the Summit sets strategic priorities for regional cooperation, integration, and development.