Stop exporting raw minerals, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi tells region

SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi addresses the 46th SADC Summit in Durban, calling on regional countries to stop exporting critical minerals in raw form and accelerate beneficiation, manufacturing and industrialisation.

SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi has urged Southern African countries to stop exporting critical minerals in raw form, saying the region must move towards beneficiation, manufacturing and industrialisation to create jobs and wealth.

Speaking at the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Durban on Monday, Magosi said the region had abundant reserves of critical minerals but needed to move beyond commitments and start adding value to them.

“The challenge is when do we stop exporting them in raw form and start adding value to them and creating sustainable jobs and wealth. Once more, we do not need permission from anyone to start this process. Let us start now!” he said.

Magosi said SADC was well positioned to benefit from the global shift towards clean energy, digital technologies and advanced manufacturing.

The region is endowed with platinum group metals, lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese, rare earth elements and copper, which he said were essential to the industries of the future.

“Our ambition must be to move beyond the export of raw materials and position SADC as a globally competitive centre for beneficiation, value addition, manufacturing, innovation, and industrialisation,” he said.

Magosi said industrialisation remained central to economic diversification, job creation, poverty reduction and improved living standards.

“Industrialisation remains central to achieving structural transformation, economic diversification, job creation, poverty reduction, and improved living standards,” he said.

He said industrialisation could not succeed without modern and reliable infrastructure, including sustainable energy systems, reliable transport networks, ports, logistics platforms and cost-effective digital connectivity.

Magosi also highlighted regional security, saying the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation's Troika Summit on Sunday had reviewed political and security developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo , Madagascar and Mozambique.

“The situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo remains a matter of concern,” he said.

He welcomed progress through diplomatic engagement and African-led peace initiatives, saying SADC remained committed to supporting efforts to restore peace, protect civilians and create conditions for sustainable development.

Magosi also expressed solidarity with the DRC over its Ebola outbreak and said the situation highlighted the importance of stronger regional cooperation on health security, disease surveillance, preparedness and coordinated responses.