The two-days SADC Council of Ministers Meeting officially kicks off

Malawi this year hosts the 33rd Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government Summit at Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe, Malawi scheduled to begin on the 17th - 18th of August, 2013.  H.E. President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania is expected to attend, where he will end the one-year tenure of Chairmanship of Troika-SADC (organ of Politics, Defence and Security) and handover to Namibia. (This photo by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago)

The two-days SADC Council of Ministers Meeting kicks off earlier today in Lilongwe, Malawi where Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP) (7th front - left), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation is also among the participants.  Tanzania has been a Chair of the Troika-SADC (organ of Politics, Defence and Security) for one year and this week marks the climax of  chairmanship, whereby Namibia is expected to be the next Chair. 

 Hon. Oldemiro Baloi (right), Minister of Foreign Affairs in Mozambique and the outgoing Chairperson for SADC Ministers Council greets and welcomes his counterpart Hon. Ephraim Chiume, Minister for Foreign Affairs in Malawi.  Hon. Chiume is the new Chairperson for the SADC Ministers Council. 

Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomão, the Executive Secretary for the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) gives his remarks during the meeting. 

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, led the Tanzania delegation in the two-days SADC Council of Ministers Meeting commenced today in Lilongwe, Malawi.  

The delegation is consisted of Hon. Dr. William Augustao Mgimwa (MP) (right), Minister for Finance, Hon. Dr. Abdallah Kigoda (MP) (left), Minister for Industry and Trade, Ambassador Rajabu Gamaha (behind 2nd left), Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Judge Frederick Werema, Attorney General.  Others include Ambassador Ambassador Radhia Msuya, High Commissioner of Tanzania to South Africa, Ambassador Patrick Tsere, Tanzania High Commissioner in Malawi and other Government officials. 

Other participants included the delegation from Namibia, which included Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (center), Minister for Foreign Affairs in Namibia.

Other participants from Mozambique.

Participants from Malawi that included Hon. Ephraim Chiume (right), Minister for Foreign Affairs. 

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation in a bilateral discussion with his counterpart Hon. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Foreign Affairs Minister of Namibia.  Also in the meeting is Ambassador Radhia Msuya, High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania in South Africa.  (This photo by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago)

All other photos are by Ms. Thoko Chikondi of Malawi