South African President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Angie Motshekga as acting president as he flew out to Harare for the SADC Summit on August 17.
Motshekga, the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, was sworn in as acting South African President by outgoing Chief Justice Zondo.
The 44th SADC Summit is running under the theme, “Promoting Innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an Industrialised SADC.”
Ramaphosa leaving South Africa for the 44th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government being held in Zimbabwe
Heads of State Attending the Harare SADC Summit in person
Thirteen SADC Heads of State are physically attending the 44th SADC Summit in Zimbabwe’s capital Harare which will see President Mnangagwa take over the rotational Chairmanship from Angola’s President João Lourenço.
Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema is attending the SADC Summit virtually, while the Presidents of Comoros, Seychelles, and Mauritius are not in attendance.
Here is a list of SADC Heads of State attending the 44th SADC Summit in Harare in addition to some interesting facts.
- Oldest SADC Head of State: 83-year-old Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba
- Youngest SADC Head of State: 50-year-old Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina
- The average age of the heads of state attending the SADC 44th Summit is 66.2 years
- There is only 1 female Head of State at the SADC Summit in Harare
| Country | Title | Head of State | DOB | Age |
| Zimbabwe | President | Emmerson Mnangagwa | 15 September 1942 | 81 |
| Tanzania | President | Samia Suluhu Hassan | 27 January 1960 | 64 |
| South Africa | President | Cyril Ramaphosa | 17 November 1952 | 71 |
| Angola | President | João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço | 5 March 1954 | 70 |
| Botswana | President | Mokgweetsi Masisi | 21 July 1961 | 63 |
| Madagascar | President | Andry Rajoelina | 30 May 1974 | 50 |
| Eswatini | King | Mswati III | 19 April 1968 | 56 |
| DRC | President | Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo | 13 June 1963 | 61 |
| Malawi | President | Lazarus Chakwera | 5 April 1955 | 69 |
| Namibia | President | Nangolo Mbumba | 15 August 1941 | 83 |
| Lesotho | Prime Minister | Samuel Ntsokoane Matekane | 15 March 1958 | 66 |
| Zambia | President | Hakainde Hichilema | 4 June 1962 | 62 |
| Mozambique | President | Filipe Jacinto Nyusi | 9 February 1959 | 65 |
Pictures of the SADC Heads of States arriving at the Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare, Zimbabwe
