MINISTER HLABISA TO CHAIR SADC COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT IN ZIMBABWE
By Communications on May 14, 2026
The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mr Velenkosini Hlabisa, will chair the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Meeting of the Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management (DRM) to be held in the Republic of Zimbabwe.
The meeting forms part of the Sixth Ordinary Meeting of SADC Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management, scheduled to take place from 11 to 14 May 2026 in Masvingo, Zimbabwe, under the theme “Building Back Better Together: Advancing Resilient Recovery and Sustainable Development in SADC.”
This high-level regional engagement will bring together Ministers and senior officials from SADC Member States to deliberate on strengthening disaster preparedness, response, and resilience across the region. The meeting serves as a critical platform to review progress on the implementation of regional disaster risk management programmes and to approve strategic frameworks guiding the region’s response to disasters.
Among the key issues for consideration are:
• Progress on regional disaster risk management initiatives and decisions of previous SADC structures
• Strengthening coordination and collaboration among Member States
• Enhancing early warning systems and disaster response mechanisms and
• Advancing the operationalisation of regional initiatives such as the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC).
The meeting of Ministers will be preceded by engagements of senior officials on 11 and 12 May 2026, with Ministers convening on 13 and 14 May 2026.
Details of the SADC Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management meeting are as follows:
*Date* : 11 – 14 May 2026
*Venue:* Masvingo, Republic of Zimbabwe
For media enquiries contact:
Ms Pearl Maseko-Binqose
Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of CoGTA
+27 82 772 1709
Mr Legadima Leso
Head of COGTA Communications
+27 66 479 9904
Issued by the Ministry of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA)