Bulawayo to Host SADC Ministerial Meeting on Climate-Resilient Infrastructure and Regional Integration
Harare, 19 June 2026– Meteorological Services Department (MSD), under the Ministry of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, will join regional policymakers, technical experts and development partners in Bulawayo for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Cluster Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Transport, ICT, Information and Meteorology, scheduled for 22–26 June 2026
Convened by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat and hosted by the Government of Zimbabwe, the high-level meeting will provide a strategic platform for Member States to review progress, strengthen cooperation and advance policies aimed at building resilient, connected and sustainable economies across the region.
As Zimbabwe's designated national meteorological authority, MSD will contribute technical expertise to regional discussions on advancing meteorological services, strengthening weather and early warning systems, enhancing data-sharing mechanisms, and harnessing emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to improve forecasting and support disaster risk management.
The meeting comes at a critical time as SADC Member States continue to confront the growing impacts of extreme weather events, alongside increasing demands on transport and digital infrastructure. Deliberations are expected to focus on four strategic pillars: modernising regional transport corridors to facilitate trade and economic integration; accelerating ICT connectivity and digital transformation; strengthening meteorological and early warning systems; and promoting the adoption of innovative technologies, including AI, in infrastructure planning and resilience-building.
Preparatory engagements will precede the ministerial segment, beginning with a Joint Meeting of Senior Officials from 22–24 June 2026, where technical recommendations and policy positions will be consolidated. On 25 June 2026, ministers and senior leaders will convene for a High-Level Ministerial Roundtable under the theme of liberalised skies and AI-enabled, climate-resilient infrastructure as catalysts for regional integration, economic growth and sustainable development.
MSD's participation reflects Zimbabwe's commitment to strengthening meteorological services and promoting science-based decision-making in support of regional resilience, sustainable development and the protection of lives and property from weather-related hazards.
The outcomes of the meeting are expected to contribute to the implementation of SADC's regional development priorities by fostering stronger collaboration across the transport, ICT, information and meteorological sectors, while positioning innovation, resilience and sustainable infrastructure at the centre of regional development planning.