4 S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N 1.2 THE SADC VISION AND MISSION D E V E L O P M E N T C O M M U N I T Y 1.3 THE SADC COMMON AGENDA The SADC Common Agenda is spelt out in Article 5 of the 1.2.1 Vision Treaty as amended, as well as in the Report on The Review The Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan policies and strategies of the organisation. The policies of (RISDP) is underpinned by the SADC vision, which charts SADC are to: the direction for the development of the region. The • of Operations of SADC Institutions and consists of the promote sustainable and equitable economic growth Declaration "Towards the Southern African Development and socio-economic development that will ensure Community", adopted in Windhoek, Namibia, on 17 poverty alleviation with the ultimate objective of its August 1992, by Heads of State or Government of eradication, enhance the standard and quality of life Southern African States, calls upon all countries and of the people of Southern Africa and support the people of Southern Africa to develop a vision of a shared socially disadvantaged through regional integration; future, a future within a regional community. • promote common political values, systems and The SADC vision is one of a common future, a future other shared values which are transmitted through in a regional community that will ensure economic well- institutions which are democratic, legitimate, and being, improvement of the standards of living and effective; quality of life, freedom and social justice and peace and • security for the peoples of Southern Africa. This shared vision is anchored on the common values and principles and the historical and cultural affinities that exist security and stability; • The RISDP is also underpinned by the SADC mission of Member States; • • promote and maximise productive employment and utilisation of the resources of the Region; • achieve sustainable utilisation of natural resources and effective protection of the environment; particularly from the objectives and strategies spelt out in Article 5 of the Treaty, the SADC Mission Statement is: "To achieve complementarity between national and regional strategies and programmes; statement. From the 1992 Declaration and the Report on the Review of the Operations of SADC Institutions, promote self-sustaining development on the basis of collective self-reliance, and the interdependence between the peoples of Southern Africa. 1.2.2 Mission consolidate, defend and maintain democracy, peace, • strengthen and consolidate the long-standing promote sustainable and equitable economic growth and historical, social and cultural affinities and links socio-economic development through efficient productive among the people of the Region; systems, deeper co-operation and integration, good • governance, and durable peace and security, so that the region emerges as a competitive and effective player in communicable diseases; • international relations and the world economy". The pursuit of this mission is guided by the following ensure that poverty eradication is addressed in all SADC activities and programmes; and • principles, which are stated in Article 4 of the SADC Treaty: combat HIV and AIDS and other deadly or mainstream gender in the process of community building. The broad strategies of the SADC as contained in the a) sovereign equality of all Member States; Treaty are to: b) solidarity, peace and security; • plans of Member States; c) human rights, democracy, and the rule of law; • d) equity, balance and mutual benefit; e) peaceful settlement of disputes. harmonise political and socio-economic policies and encourage the peoples of the Region and their institutions to take initiatives to develop economic, social and cultural ties across the region, and to