The two-day heads of State meeting of the Southern African Development Community ended in Botswana on August 18 with delegates concluding that the region needs to act fast to deal with poverty, unemployment and food insecurity in the wake of severe drought. 

The SADC leaders signed the much awaited agreement on the free movement of people. The agreement paves the way for the easy movement of people, services and goods among member states. 

The summit, marking the regional bloc's 25th anniversary, also adopted the AU position on gender equality which provides for a 50% target of women representation in all political and decision-making bodies. 

The meeting did not however produce a common position on Africa's representation in the UN Security Council. Issues around Zimbabwe were not discussed.

19 August 2005