• Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Frontline States is held in Gaborone, Botswana.
  • Meeting of ministers responsible for economic development is held in Arusha, Tanzania.
  • The Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) is formed in Lusaka, Zambia.
  • Namibia joins the SADCC.
  • The SADCC transforms into the Southern African Development Community (SADC) with the signing of the Declaration and Treaty of SADC at their Summit in Windhoek, Namibia.
  • Following the end of apartheid, South Africa joins the SADC at the Heads of State Summit in Gaborone, Botswana.
  • Mauritius joins the SADC.
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Seychelles join the SADC.
  • Decision to develop the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) is made at a meeting of the SADC Heads of State and Government in Maputo, Mozambique.
  • The Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO) is launched.
  • Seychelles withdraws from the SADC.
  • Madagascar joins the SADC.
  • The SADC, along with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC), announce that they will be establishing the Africa Free Trade Zone.
  • Seychelles rejoins the SADC.
  • In October of 2008, the SADC, along with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC), announce that they will be establishing the Africa Free Trade Zone at a joint summit. This agreement will combine the current regional trade areas of the member organizations, creating a new trade zone spanning 26 countries.

Sources

Africa Union: Southern African Development Community (SADC)

International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development: Egypt-to-South Africa Free Trade Zone on the Move

Lieberman, Evan Scott. "Organisational Cloaking in Southern Africa: South Africa and the SADC after Apartheid".

Official SADC Website

Republic of South Africa Department of International Relations and Cooperation: Southern African Development Community (SADC)

The Southern African Development Community Today: Seychelles will apply to rejoin SADC