Luanda - The ambassadors of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), in Nigeria, gathered on Wednesday, in Lagos, to reflect on the importance of the Battle of Kuito Kuanavale in the democratization of the region, as part of the celebrations on the 23rd March.

The meeting chaired by the Angolan ambassador to Nigeria and president of the SADC Group in that country, Bamóquina Zau, described the battle of Kuito Kuanavale as a historic milestone for the region that allowed Namibia's independence and the fall of Apartheid in South Africa.

In his message, the diplomat recalled that the etymology of March 23, Southern Africa Liberation Day, was born with the aforementioned battle, one of the biggest after World War II.

“Today, as we celebrate the date, it is only right that we pay tribute to the men and women who lost their lives so that Southern Africa could enjoy peace, social stability and economic prosperity”, he maintained.

After considering Southern Africa one of the most stable sub-regions on the continent, Bamóquina Zau asked his counterparts to capitalize on President João Lourenço's motto,

He recalled that the motto is “human and financial capital: The main factors for sustainable industrialization in the SADC region”. based on the region's 2050 vision and the Indicative Strategic Plan for Regional Development.

For the ambassador, the slogan should also capitalize on West Africa in the search for credible and competitive partners for its growth.

He highlighted the Lobito Corridor as a fundamental route for infrastructure development to boost mobility, cross-border trade, internal logistics connectivity and exports.

'It is a challenge that we must embrace and explore opportunities for cooperation, always based on peace, security and good governance', he concluded.

The Lobito Corridor is an important economic vehicle between Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, and can connect to the Tanzanian Railways, up to the Port of Dar-es-Salaam, in the Indian Ocean. VIC/DOJ