Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries have been urged to integrate environmental sustainability and socioeconomic development, an official said in a statement Thursday.
Boemo Sekgoma, secretary general of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, said this is the only way countries making up the 16-member Southern African regional bloc can demonstrate their commitment to climate resilience.
“Sustainable conservation of the environment in the Southern Africa region needs the commitment of each country through the integration of environmental sustainability and economic and social development. The development is in pursuit of a wholesome natural resources governance matrix,” she said.
According to Sekgoma, SADC countries must embrace transparency, scientific knowledge, and sustainable environmental practices in order to truly benefit from their natural resources.
She said legislators and corporations must prioritize national interests by ensuring fair and equitable resource management for present and future generations.
Proposing a three-pronged approach centered on knowledge, governance, and sustainability, the secretary general underlined the need to equip governments and citizens with scientific knowledge, ensuring transparency in resource extraction and utilization, to create a win-win scenario for all regional countries and the citizenry at the community level.
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