The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has intensified its efforts in the race for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB), reaffirming its support for Zambian economist Samuel M. Maimbo. This move comes despite South Africa having nominated its own candidate, Swazi Tshabalala.
In a statement released on Monday, the regional bloc emphasized its backing for Maimbo, noting that discussions around selecting the SADC candidate began during the 2022 Summit of Heads of State and Government held in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
During the 44th SADC Summit on August 17, 2024, in Zimbabwe, SADC officially named Samuel M. Maimbo as its sole candidate for the AfDB presidency. The summit also called on all member states to support his candidacy and actively campaign for his election.
Initially, seven candidates from Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia were shortlisted and interviewed. Maimbo, from Zambia, was ranked first after this process.
The position of AfDB president will become vacant on August 31, 2025, when the term of the current president, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, comes to an end.
SADC is a regional organization that promotes economic development in Southern Africa. The group consists of 16 member states, including Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Through initiatives like this, SADC seeks to strengthen economic ties and improve political stability across the region.
