Cannabiz Africa
PharmaConnect Africa Chairperson and TUT academic Dr David Katerere (pictured here) and colleagues are advocating for a SADC Cannabis Roundtable to be recognised by the SADC Secretariat as part of ongoing discussions during the SADC Industrialisation Week currently under way in Durban.
The 9th SADC Industrialisation Week runs from 27-31 July 2026. It is co-hosted by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, SADC Business Council and the South Africa government and gathers regional leaders, scientists, industry experts, policymakers and other stakeholders to focus on critical mineral beneficiation, infrastructure and vale chains.
Cannabis missing from SADC industrialization agenda
However, Afrobotanicals and cannabis are not on the event’s agenda despite the fact that traditional medicine is at the centre of healthcare in the SADC region.
“There was no discussion around cannabis at the Industrialisation Week. In future events such as the CannaConnect we would be inviting the SADC Secretariat for purposes of supporting a SADC Roundtable on cannabis and hemp,” Dr Katere said.
Discussions during Industrialisation Week had mostly focused on agro-processing, with little attention paid to the link between agro-processing and pharmaceutical development. This wasdespite the fact that conventional pharmaceuticals depended on agro-processed crops for their manufacture and origin.
“It will be good in subsequent SADC Industrialisation Weeks to have a real focus on herbal medicines,” suggested Dr Katerere.
https://www.cannabiz-africa.com/blog/6a69f77706128bc82ec08078