www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I March 2025 9
Associations
SADC RAC PRESIDENT MANYUKWA OPENS THIRD REGIONAL MEETING
By Eamonn Ryan
In a recent address at the annual gathering of the Southern African Development Community Refrigeration and Air Conditioning ( SADC RAC ) Association , president Caign Manyukwa highlighted the association ' s growth , achievements and ambitious vision for the future .
Established in 2022 , the SADC RAC Association has quickly expanded to include multiple countries within the region , with a clear focus on enhancing the professional standards of the RAC sector and contributing to global efforts to address climate change .
During his speech , Manyukwa emphasised the importance of regional collaboration to tackle climate change . One of the central themes of the workshop was the need for greater professionalism in the RAC industry . He pointed out the challenges faced by the sector , including a lack of recognition for technical expertise and the difficulty in charging consultation fees due to the industry ’ s current state .
" We are at a point where we can look back and say we ’ ve begun something significant . We are moving toward turning our industry into one that is recognised for its professionalism , where clients will start to worry about losing us rather than the other way around ."
He underscored the importance of finding sustainable alternatives to ozone-depleting substances and reducing the carbon footprint of refrigeration technologies . The association has established a training and certification centre in Namibia , helping to build the technical capacity needed to achieve these goals across the region .
Manyukwa stressed the need for regional collaboration to address climate change and other environmental challenges . " As a region , we need to play our part in global efforts to reduce energy consumption and tackle climate change ," he remarked . The president acknowledged the efforts of various countries within the region to contribute to global goals , emphasising that the challenges facing the refrigeration and air conditioning industry are not isolated to any one country but are shared regionally and globally .
SADC RAC ’ S SHORT HISTORY He shared the story of how the SADC RAC Association came to be . What began as a simple gathering of like-minded professionals in 2022 has evolved into a significant force driving regional cooperation , sustainability and professional development in the RAC sector .
Manyukwa recalled the early days of the SADC RAC Association , when it was nothing more than a conversation in a room . It didn ’ t even have a name at first — just a group of passionate individuals with a shared vision .
“ The formation of the SADC RAC Association began in August to early September 2022 ,” Manyukwa explained . " It started with our National Ozone Officer from Zimbabwe , George ( Chumba ), and colleagues from Namibia and Zambia — people who were determined to find ways to collaborate on issues related to the Montreal Protocol and its Kigali Amendment ."
This initial meeting in Zimbabwe was an ‘ interactive workshop ’ where the group exchanged ideas and discussed their mutual goals of reducing ozone-depleting substances and enhancing regional collaboration . The first official steps towards forming the association were informal but fruitful . The attendees from Zimbabwe , Namibia and Zambia quickly recognised the potential for cross-border collaboration and realised that they could achieve far more together than they could individually . They also identified a key issue : the need to increase collaboration across the region , especially regarding the phase-out of HCFCs and phase-down of HFCs .
SADC RAC Association , president Caign Manyukwa .
The conversation shifted from a single-country collaboration to a broader regional movement . As more countries — such as eSwatini , Malawi , Botswana and Lesotho — expressed interest ,
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www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I March 2025 9