S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N D E V E L O P M E N T C O M M U N I T Y In formulating the RISDP and SIPO, and setting out have set for ourselves. Through them, with the Secretariat the region’s agenda and targets, SADC fully took into facilitating policy harmonisation, we stand to realise consideration the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) SADC's vision of a common future. adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, the But time is of the essence. And time is not on our Constitutive Act of the African Union, the Treaty side. The Founding President of my country, Mwalimu establishing the African Economic Community, the New Julius K. Nyerere, used to urge us: “We must run while Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as well as others walk”. Having promulgated RISDP and SIPO, let us other now run in order to narrow the gap between our region initiatives on international development cooperation. In this way, we underline the fact that SADC and the developed world. is open to partnerships in her development efforts. God bless SADC. Indeed, we perceive SADC as a building block to the God bless Africa. overall African integration agenda as well as a cardinal contributor to the effective and competitive integration of her Member-States into the global economy. We believe that the RISDP and SIPO will assist the region to create a promising future and stability, peace, security, democracy, prosperity and equity. MemberStates, through SADC National Committees, will be key Benjamin William Mkapa implementers of these plans. It is, therefore, to Member- President of the United Republic of Tanzania and States, collectively and individually, that i place the hope Chairperson of the Southern African Development for the effective and timely realisation of the goals that we Community.