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From 6 July 2006, a graphic version of the current edition is available at the Daily News Online web site.

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Responding to media enquires during a briefing he conducted with the SADC executive secretary Prega Ramsamy following a closed meeting by the SADC Council of Ministers, Tumelo said given the smallness of the population of Botswana, for example, it is not easy to attract investors into the country because the market is small.

But the country can use the immensity of the market provided by SADC to attract investors because the investors will be looking at SADC as a single market; so it will be good to have an enlarged SADC.

According to Tumelo, the advent of globalisation demands that countries bargain as a bloc.

Also, Tumelo said the enlarged regional bloc would help member states share experiences on issues of development as the members are at different stages of development.

Meanwhile, Madagascar looks set to join the 13-member organisation as the Council of Ministers has made a recommendation to the heads of state to this effect.

Dr Ramsamy explained that the council yesterday made a recommendation after Madagascar had for some time been operating on a candidature status.

On the interest shown by Rwanda to join the SADC, Ramsamy said a lot of work remains to be done before the country is considered for membership and we believe that there is still time to take care of everything regarding the countrys interest and subsequent consideration for membership.

In a bid to fast track the issue of women empowerment, the ministers have recommended for a protocol on Gender and Development in lieu of the declaration, which has been in place for years.

Council also noted that in order to further facilitate member states that are lagging behind in meeting the targets and commitments for gender equality and the advancement of women, and to enable members states to move at the same pace, there is need to upgrade the SADC Gender and Development Declaration into a more binding Protocol on Gender and Development, the executive secretary said.

However, it could be some time before the protocol comes into effect, as the process of effecting the change is long.

This would entail, among other things, drafting the protocol, consulting different stakeholders for their input and seeking approval from member states.

The two officials informed the media that the political and economic situation in Zimbabwe was not on the agenda for the summit.

They however could not rule out the possibility of the issue coming up during the summit deliberations.

Meanwhile, the heads of state and government leaders who arrived in the country yesterday, will today attend a ceremony to lay a foundation stone and unveiling of a monument to mark the commencement of the construction of the new SADC Headquarters at the Gaborone Central Business District (GCBD).

At the time of going to press, the Council of Ministers was still to consider applications for top posts at the SADC Secretariat including that of executive secretary and deputy executive secretary.

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