SADC to hold Council of Ministers meeting, 20 – 24 Feb

2 February 2006

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers
meeting will take place from 20 to 24 February 2006 in Gaborone, Botswana. The
Standing Committee of Officials will precede the Council meeting as
follows:

* Standing Committee of Senior Officials, 20 - 22 February 2006
* Council of Minister, 23 - 24 February 2006

Journalists are encouraged to apply for accreditation or send their names to
Ms Solomon the SADC Nation Media Coordinator not later than 10 February 2006.
Without accreditation, journalist will not be allowed to cover or enter any of
the venues and function open to the media. Please note that journalists
bringing equipment such as camera will have to clear it with the Botswana
Customs Department.

For accreditation and other media enquiries such as broadcast, links etc,
please directly contact:

Ms Kebareng Solomon
SADC National Media Coordinator
Department of Information Services
Private Bag 0060
Gaborone

Tel: 267 365 3500
Fax: 267 365 3629
E-mail: ksolomon@gov.bw

Draft media programme

SADC Council of Ministers meetings
18 – 24 February, 2006
Gaborone, Republic of Botswana

Tuesday 15 February, 2006 SADC Satellite Offices Kgale Hill

09:00: Joint Pre-Council SADC Diplomats Briefing by the Government of
Botswana and SADC Secretariat.

10:00: Joint Pre-Council Diplomats Briefing by the Government of Botswana
and the SADC Secretariat.

14:30: Joint Pre-Council Media Briefing by the Government of Botswana and
SADC Secretariat.

Monday, 20 February (Venue TBA)

10:00: Briefing by the SADC Principal Economist Dr Angelo Mondlane, on the
implementation of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan.

15:00: Briefing by the Acting Director of Politics, Defence and
Security Affairs, Mr Joao Ndlovu, and the Head of the SADC Gender Unit, Mrs
Magdeline Madiba-Madibela.

Directorate Briefings (Venue TBA)

Tuesday, 21 February

10:00: Media Briefing by Mrs. Margaret Nyirenda, Director of Food,
Agriculture and Natural Resources Directorate.

15:00: Media Briefing by Mr Remigius Makumbe, Director of Infrastructure and
Services Directorate.

Wednesday 22 February

10:00: Media Briefing by Mr Stephen Sianga, Director of Social and Human
Development and Special Programmes Directorate.

15:00: Media Briefing by Mr Nokokure Murangi, Director, Trade, Industry,
Finance and Investment Directorate.

Thursday 23 February

10:30: Group Photograph of the SADC Council of Ministers

18:00: Signing of the Southern African Power Pool Revised Inter-Governmental
Memorandum of Agreement.

Friday 24 February

10:00: Post Council Media Conference by Honourable Baledzi Gaolathe,
Minister of Finance and Development Planning and Chairperson of the SADC
Council of Ministers and Dr Tomaz Salomao, Executive Secretary of SADC.

Post-Council Diplomats Briefings

Monday 27 February

10:00: Post – Council Diplomats Briefing by SADC Executive Secretary, Dr
Tomaz Salomão at SADC Kgale View Offices.

Contacts
Leefa Martin
Petronilla Ndebele
Mpho Kgosidintsi

SADC Secretariat
Tel: 267:3951863
Fax: 267:3972848/3181070
registry@sadc.int

Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS) on behalf of Southern African
Development Community (SADC) Secretariat
2 February 2006