Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders meeting in Malawi yesterday approved the appointment of Mr Elias Mpedi Magosi of Botswana as the new executive secretary of the regional bloc.
SADC countries picked Magosi who was up against Professor Faustin Mukela of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A communique issued at the end of the 41st Ordinary Summit of the SADC said: “Summit approved the appointment of Mr Elias Mpedi Magosi as the new executive secretary of SADC. Summit commended the outgoing SADC executive secretary, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, for having served the organisation professionally, diligently, and with high level of competence.”
Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi led an aggressive campaign to get Magosi elected, travelling to most SADC countries canvassing for votes.
Before his latest appointment, Magosi was the permanent secretary in Masisi’s office. Professor Mukela, meanwhile, has been a senior official at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) since 1996.
Magosi has worked for SADC secretariat before. He was the bloc’s director for human resources before being poached by the Botswana government when Masisi secured the presidency in 2018.
