Cabinet has lauded the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) heads of state and government summit, hosted by South Africa last week, as a success.

The launch of the Free Trade Area (FTA) and adoption of the Sadc Protocol on Gender and Development were noted as some of the key highlights of the summit, government spokesperson Themba Maseko said after Cabinet's fortnightly meeting.

The launch of the FTA would lay a firm foundation for regional economic integration, he said.

Cabinet noted the Protocol on Gender and Development was signed at a time when South Africa was celebrating August as Women's Month.

This protocol called for far-reaching changes in the SADC countries including the repeal of all discriminatory laws, inclusion of gender equality and equity in national constitutions, and adoption of the goal of 50 percent representation by women in political and decision-making structures in Sadc countries by 2015.

Implementation of the protocol would be monitored by the SADC Executive Secretary, who would table progress reports to the summit every two years.

The next step was for all Sadc countries to develop national plans of action to implement the protocol.

Maseko said Cabinet had also noted that during the course of the summit, an extraordinary summit of the Organ of Heads of State and Government was also convened to discuss developments in Zimbabwe.

The extraordinary summit had resolved to call upon all the parties in Zimbabwe to form an inclusive government and urged them to also commit to the dialogue aimed at implementing the Sadc and African Union resolutions.

President Thabo Mbeki was commended by this summit for his role as a facilitator and he was called upon to continue with the mediation efforts.

The meeting noted that the facilitation process is continuing as per the Sadc mandate, Maseko said.

Sapa