President Nangolo Mbumba says today the SADC region can look back to the past 32 years with pride and a sense of achievement.

He says the regional bloc has been instrumental in promoting collaboration among its member states, enabling them to work together towards common goals that benefit the economies of the member states and people.

Dr. Mbumba said this in a message in commemoration of SADC Day, commemorated annually on August 17th.

"Over the years, SADC has evolved into a vibrant community by implementing various protocols and agreements. Still, more work lies ahead to guarantee the prosperity and welfare of each and every citizen in our region. We should continue to enhance trade relations, harmonise policies, and invest in infrastructure development to unlock the vast potential of our region. We should continue to prioritise dialogue and reconciliation to ensure that peace prevails for development and prosperity to flourish," he said.

The President urged SADC countries to join hands in combating climate change through sustainable practices and innovative solutions that protect the environment while ensuring food security for future generations.

This, he says, is due to the SADC region being no exception to the impacts of climate change, which poses a threat to citizens' livelihoods, food security, and development.

The President stressed that the El Niño phenomenon has exacerbated the crisis.

SADC Day is observed ahead of the 44th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government, taking place in Harare, Zimbabwe.