# tblSANF

Abstract:
DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS 
have said the Rio+20 summit
compromise deal presented as
“The Future We Want” falls
short of meeting expectations
of developing countries.

body:
DEVELOPMENT EXPERTS 
have said the Rio+20 summit
compromise deal presented as
“The Future We Want” falls
short of meeting expectations
of developing countries. 
Instead of reaching consensus
on how to rescue the
planet during the United Nations
Conference on Sustainable
Development held in Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil, in June,
deep divisions remained on
the way forward towards a
common goal.
 
The Africa Progress Panel
(APP) has expressed disappointment
at the failure of the
Rio +20 summit to deliver
meaningful and measurable
commitments to combat climate
change and its effects
across Africa and other developing
regions.
 
“The lack of commitment
to defined and measurable
sustainable development
goals at the Rio +20 Summit is
a profoundly disturbing outcome,”
said APP chairperson
and former UN Secretary-
General, Kofi Annan.
 
“We all have an obligation
to the world’s poorest and
most vulnerable people, who
bear the brunt of the global
ecological crisis – and to future
generations, to do better.”
 
Executive director of
Greenpeace, Kumi Naidoo
agreed, saying that Rio+20
had taken a step back instead
of moving the sustainable development
agenda forward.
 
“The future we want has
gotten a little further away
today. Rio+20 has turned into
an epic failure. It has failed on
equity, failed on ecology and
failed on economy,” he said.
 
“This is not a foundation
on which to grow economiesor pull people out of poverty,
it’s the last will and testament
of a destructive twentieth
century development
model.”
 
The Rio+20 summit was
held under two themes.
These were “Green Economy
in the Context of Sustainable
Development and Poverty
Eradication” and “Institutional
Framework for Sustainable
Development”.
 
A total of seven key areas
were identified for discussion
– energy, water, food security,
jobs, cities, oceans and disasters.
 
These areas considered
critical towards poverty reduction
and sustainable development.
“This is an outcome that
makes nobody happy,”
Rio+20 Secretary-General, Sha
Zukang, said at the conclusion
of the summit.


Abstract:
GLOBAL LEADERS  have acknowledged
the vital role
played by women in achieving
sustainable development and
resolved to prioritise measures
to promote gender equality and
women’s empowerment.

body:
GLOBAL LEADERS  have acknowledged
the vital role
played by women in achieving
sustainable development and
resolved to prioritise measures
to promote gender equality and
women’s empowerment. 
The United Nations Conference
on Sustainable Development
held in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, in June noted that, although
there has been some
progress on gender equality,
the potential of women to engage
in, contribute to and benefit
sustainable development as
leaders, participants and agents
of change has not been fully realised
due to persistent social
and economic inequalities.
 
The 193 leaders who attended
the conference resolved
to accelerate the
implementation of their respective
commitments contained
in the Convention on
the Elimination of all forms
of Discrimination against
Women, as well as Agenda 21,
the Beijing Declaration and
Platform for Action, and the
UN Millennium Declaration.
 
“We support prioritising
measures to promote gender
equality empowerment of
women in all spheres of our
societies, including the removal
of barriers to their full
and equal participation in decision-
making and management
at all levels,” the leaders
said in a communiqué at the
end of the conference.
 
They resolved to unlock the
potential of women as drivers
of sustainable development,
including through the repeal
of discriminatory laws, ensuring
equal access to justice and
legal support, reform of institutions
to ensure competence
and capacity for gender mainstreaming
as well as the development
and adoption of
innovative measures to address
informal, harmful practices
that act as barriers to gender
equality.
 
“In this regard, we commit
to creating an enabling environment
for improving the situation
of women and girls
everywhere, particularly in
rural areas and local communities
and among indigenous
peoples and ethnic minorities,”
the leaders said.
 
They undertook to institute
legislative and administrative
reforms to give women equal
rights with men with regard to
economic resources, including
access to ownership and control
over land and other forms
of property, credit, inheritance,
natural resources and appropriate
new technology.
 
Other measures include
promotion of equal access of
women and girls to education,
basic services, economic opportunities
and health-care
services, including addressing
women’s sexual and reproductive
health, and ensuring
universal access to safe, effective,
affordable and acceptable
modern methods of family
planning.
 
Southern Africa is one of
the regions that have recorded
progress in mainstreaming
gender in policies and developmental
processes.
 
There has been some
progress towards gender
mainstreaming in politics and
an increase in the number of
women in political decisionmaking
positions in most
SADC Member States since
the adoption of the SADC
Declaration on Gender and
Development by SADC leaders
in 1997 following the UN
Fourth World Women Conference
in Beijing, China in 1995.
 
The highest positions in
government reached by
women to date have been the
Presidency in Malawi and
Mauritius, Vice Presidency in
South Africa and Zimbabwe,
Prime Minister in Mozambique
and Deputy Prime Minister
in Namibia.
 
A Tanzanian woman has
been deputy secretary-general
of the United Nations for the
past five years, and a South
African woman has just been
elected to head the African
Union Commission.
 
There are five women
Speakers of Parliament or Senate
Presidents in the region, in
Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique,
Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
 
Southern Africa had by
2009 reached the third highest
percentage of women in politics
at the parliamentary level,
with 20 percent, a figure surpassed
only by the Nordic
countries with 40.8 percent
and the Americas at 21.4 percent.
 
The region’s average percentage
of women in Parliament
is higher than the world
average of 18.5 percent, the
Sub-Saharan average of 18.6
percent, Asia at 18.4 percent,
the Pacific at 15.2 percent, and
the Arab States (9.1 percent)
which is the lowest.
 
However, more vigorous
measures are needed if southern
Africa is to attain the 50-
percent target for
representation of women in
political and decision-making
positions at all levels by 2015
in line with regional and continental
targets.


title:
Migiro appointed Special Envoy for
HIV and AIDS in Africa

Abstract:
ASHA-ROSE MIGIRO   from
the United Republic of Tanzania
has been appointed as the
UN Secretary-General’s Special
Envoy for HIV and AIDS
in Africa.

body:
ASHA-ROSE MIGIRO   from
the United Republic of Tanzania
has been appointed as the
UN Secretary-General’s Special
Envoy for HIV and AIDS
in Africa.  
Secretary-General Ban Ki-
Moon said Migiro is uniquely
qualified for this job due to her
“experience in responding to
AIDS as UN Deputy Secretary-
General, combined with
her many years as an advocate
for health and social justice in
Africa.”  
 
Migiro served as the United
Nations Deputy Secretary-General from 2007 to 2012, and was
actively involved in promoting
the UN response to AIDS, with
special emphasis on reducing
the vulnerability of women and
girls and ensuring the rights of
people living with HIV.
 
“I am honoured to accept
this appointment at this crucial
moment in the African
AIDS response,” she said.
“Now is the time to take our
efforts to a new level.”
 
Migiro served as Tanzania’s
Minister of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation
from 2006 to 2007—the first
woman to hold that position
since independence in 1961.
 
She was previously the Minister
for Community Development,
Gender and Children
for five years. Prior to Government
service, she pursued a
career in academia, and
served as a member of the UN
Committee on the Elimination
of Discrimination against
Women in 2000.


title:
SADC establishes committee to drive higher education development

Abstract:
SADC HAS  established a
technical committee to spearhead
the revival of higher education
development and
training in southern Africa.

body:
SADC HAS  established a
technical committee to spearhead
the revival of higher education
development and
training in southern Africa.  
The committee, to be made
up of senior education officers
from across the region, was set
up by ministers responsible
for higher education in SADC
Member States who met in Johannesburg,
South Africa in
June. 
 
The ministerial meeting
tasked the SADC Technical
Committee on Higher Education
and Training and Research
and Development to develop a
regional strategic plan on
higher education and training,
research development.
 
The committee is expected
to, among other things, review
access to higher education and
participation rates in southern
Africa, as well as funding and
capacity-building of higher
education to guide proper investments
for the next 10-15
years. “This plan will outline
key priorities for both the
short and long term,” South
African Deputy Minister of
Higher Education and Training,
Hlengiwe Mkhize, said.
 
“If all the plans made by
the technical committee are effectively
and successfully implemented,
we would see a
positive impact on the higher
education and training sector
within the SADC region.”
 
The ministers noted that,
due to various factors such as
limited financial resources, the
region is experiencing very
low levels of enrolment and
participation in higher education
when compared to other
regions in Africa and globally.
 
The quality of the education is
also deteriorating while the
number of academic staff had
declined.
  

“The leadership and management
of higher education
institutions are in many cases
weak, while the quality of
teachers and the education that
is available does not always


Abstract:
SADC MEMBER  States agreed in September
2007 to cooperate in education and training
under this Protocol for purposes of achieving
the following objectives:

body:
B> SADC MEMBER  States agreed in September
2007 to cooperate in education and training
under this Protocol for purposes of achieving
the following objectives:  
• To develop and implement a common system 
of regular collection and reporting of
information by Member States about the
current status and future demand and supply,
and the priority areas for provision of
education and training in the region;
 
• To establish mechanisms and institutional
arrangements that enables Member States
to pool their resources to effectively and
efficiently produce the required professional,
technical, research and managerial
personnel to plan and manage the development
process in general and across all
sectors in the region;
 
• To promote and coordinate the formulation
and implementation of comparable
and appropriate policies, strategies and
systems of education and training in
Member States;
 
• To promote and coordinate
the formulation and implementation
of policies, strategies and
programmes for the promotion and application
of science and technology, including
modern information technology and
research and development in the region;
 
• To work towards the reduction and eventual
elimination of constraints to better
and freer access, by citizens of Member
States, to good quality education and
training opportunities within the region;
 
• To work towards the relaxation and eventual
elimination of immigration formalities
in order to facilitate freer movement
of students and staff within the region for
the specific purposes of study, teaching,
research and any other pursuits relating to
education and training; and
 
• To progressively achieve the equivalence,
harmonisation and standardisation of the
education and training systems in the region.


title:
China, Africa target “new strategic partnership”

Abstract:
CHINA AND  Africa have
agreed on a new plan of action
for the three years to 2015 as
the two sides strive to achieve
a “new type of strategic partnership”.

body:
CHINA AND  Africa have
agreed on a new plan of action
for the three years to 2015 as
the two sides strive to achieve
a “new type of strategic partnership”. 
Ministers in charge of foreign
affairs and economic cooperation
from China and 50
African countries resolved at
the 5th Ministerial Conference
of the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC) held in
July in Beijing, China, to
deepen the strategic partnership
underpinned by the values of political equality, mutual
trust, economic win-win cooperation
and cultural exchanges. 
 
The Beijing Action Plan
(2013-2015), which was
adopted together with the Beijing
Declaration, will focus on
trade, investment, poverty reduction,
infrastructure, capacity-
building, food security,
and political cooperation,
among other sectors.
 
China pledged to implement
a “special plan on trade
with Africa,” under which it
will send investment and
trade promotion missions to
Africa, expand imports from
Africa and support the holding
of African products exhibitions
to help African countries
export their competitive goods
to China.
 
This will include technical
support for intensive processing
of African agro-produce
and industrial raw materials,
and increasing value addition
of Africa's primary products
through investment.
 
Chinese companies will be
encouraged to establish processing
and manufacturing
bases in Africa to help raise the
added value of African exports.
China pledged to further
open its market to African
products and phase in zerotariff
treatment to 97 percent
of the products from the least
developed African countries,
including the establishment of
“a consultation mechanism on
the place of origin for goods
enjoying zero-tariff treatment
and improving the cooperation
mechanism to implement
zero-tariff treatment,” the
ministers said.
 
The two sides announced
that they would “consider the
establishment of a China-
Africa energy forum under the
framework of FOCAC to promote
China-Africa energy exchanges
and cooperation”
while strengthening cooperation
in clean energy and renewable
resources projects.
 
“In view of the strong complementarity
and cooperation
potential between
China and Africa in energy
and resources, the
two sides will encourage
and support joint development
and proper use of
their energy and resources by
enterprises of the two sides,”
the ministers said.
 
In terms of cooperation in
international affairs, the two
sides agreed to uphold the
central role of the United Nations
in international affairs
and promote multilateralism
and democracy in international
relations.
 
They reaffirmed the need
for necessary reforms of the
UN, noting that priority
should be given to increasing
the representation of African
countries in the UN Security
Council and other institutions.
South Africa, which takes
over as co-chair of the FOCAC
for six years, said it would do
its utmost to carry out the objectives
of the Beijing Action
Plan (2013-2015), deepen
African countries' engagement
in the activities of the forum
and make the forum compatible
with the proposals of the
African Union. 
 
Chinese President Hu Jintao
proposed measures in five
priority areas, including financial
assistance to the AU’s
peacekeeping missions, to
boost China's relations with
the continent.
 
The new focus areas are the
expansion of investment and
financing to support sustainable
development in Africa,
increased assistance to Africa,
support for Africa’s integration
process and strengthening
of continental capacity in
executing overall development goals, enhancement of
people-to-people friendship,
and promotion of peace and
stability in Africa.
 
China will during the next
three years launch the “Initiative
on China-Africa Cooperative
Partnership for Peace and
Security” and deepen cooperation
with the AU and African
countries on peace and security,
Hu said.
 
China will provide financial
support for the AU peacekeeping
missions and the
development of the African
Standby Force, and train more
officials in peace and security
affairs and peacekeepers for
the AU.
China also said it will support
the African integration
process, and promote exchanges
between the people,
media and scholars of China
and Africa to “lay a solid foundation
of public support” to
the relations.
 
Beijing pledged to provide
a US$20 billion credit line to
African countries over the
next three years. The loans
will support infrastructure,
agriculture, manufacturing
and development of small and
medium-sized businesses.
 
FOCAC is a collective consultation
and dialogue mechanism
between China and
African countries launched in
2000. The 6th FOCAC ministerial
conference will be held in
Johannesburg, South Africa, in
2015.


Abstract:
THE PROPOSED BRICS  Development
Bank involving
five emerging economies –
Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa – is expected
to be established next year in
South Africa.

body:
THE PROPOSED BRICS  Development
Bank involving
five emerging economies –
Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa – is expected
to be established next year in
South Africa. 
The launch of the BRICS
Development Bank is expected
to provide developing
and emerging countries with
an alternative source of funding,
and considerable groundwork
for the bank launch was
covered during the 2012
BRICS Summit held in India
in April.
 
The proposed bank is expected
to finance infrastructure
and sustainable
development in developing
countries. This follows concerns
that existing multilateral
financial institutions are doing
little to promote development
in poorer countries.
 
Furthermore, existing international
financial institutions
are dominated by Western
powers and often impose stringent
conditions for accessing
loans or debt relief.


title:
Nine parties register for Angolan elections

Abstract:
NINE POLITICAL  parties
have been cleared to participate
in the Angolan parliamentary
elections scheduled
for 31 August while 18 others
were disqualified for failing to
comply with requirements of
the country’s Electoral Law. 
Constitutional Court chairperson,
Rui Ferreira said five
of the parties will stand separately
while the remainder are
coalitions made up of 20 small
parties that have expressed interest
to take part in the elections.
 
The five main parties include
the ruling Popular
Movement for the Liberation
of Angola (MPLA) and the
main opposition National
Union for the Total Independence
of Angola
(UNITA). Others are the National
Liberation Front of Angola
(FNLA), the Party for
Social Renovation (PRS) and
the Popular Party for Development
(PAPOD).
 
The coalitions include the
Convergence Angola Salvation
Wide-Electoral Coalition
(CASA-EC), which is an umbrella
for four small parties
and is the brainchild of former
senior UNITA official, Abel
Chivukuvuku.
 
Other coalitions are the Opposition
Political Consultative
Council (CPO), New Democracy
(ND) and United Front for
Change of Angola (FUMA).
The ND is a coalition of
seven parties while the CPO
and FUMA are umbrella
groups made up of four and
six small parties, respectively.
 
Ferreira said of the 27 applications
submitted to the
court, 18 were disqualified as
they did not meet the minimum
requirement of 14,000
signatures of supporters who
are registered as voters,
among other reasons.
 
Among those rejected are
the Democratic Block (BD), led
by former ruling party member
Justino Pinto de Andrade;
and Popular Party (PP), which
was formed by lawyer David
Mendes.
 
According to the National
Electoral Commission (CNE),
about nine million Angolans
are registered to vote in the
forthcoming elections.
CNE spokesperson Julia
Ferreira said more than 10,780
polling stations will be set up
around the country.
 
These will be the third elections
since Angola attained independence
from Portugal in
1975. The first post-independence
election was held in
1992, before the civil war was
re-ignited by UNITA led by
Jonas Savimbi, and the second
polls were held in 2008. The
conflict ended in 2002 with the
death of Savimbi.
 
The MPLA won by more
than 81 percent and has used
its commanding parliamentary
majority to pass a raft of
new laws including a new
constitution that has abolished
direct presidential elections
in favour of an electoral
college.
 
Under the new Electoral
Law, the President and Vice
President will be elected indirectly.
The head of state will
be chosen from the party
with the parliamentary majority.

body:
NINE POLITICAL  parties
have been cleared to participate
in the Angolan parliamentary
elections scheduled
for 31 August while 18 others
were disqualified for failing to
comply with requirements of
the country’s Electoral Law. 
Constitutional Court chairperson,
Rui Ferreira said five
of the parties will stand separately
while the remainder are
coalitions made up of 20 small
parties that have expressed interest
to take part in the elections.
 
The five main parties include
the ruling Popular
Movement for the Liberation
of Angola (MPLA) and the
main opposition National
Union for the Total Independence
of Angola
(UNITA). Others are the National
Liberation Front of Angola
(FNLA), the Party for
Social Renovation (PRS) and
the Popular Party for Development
(PAPOD).
 
The coalitions include the
Convergence Angola Salvation
Wide-Electoral Coalition
(CASA-EC), which is an umbrella
for four small parties
and is the brainchild of former
senior UNITA official, Abel
Chivukuvuku.
 
Other coalitions are the Opposition
Political Consultative
Council (CPO), New Democracy
(ND) and United Front for
Change of Angola (FUMA).
The ND is a coalition of
seven parties while the CPO
and FUMA are umbrella
groups made up of four and
six small parties, respectively.
 
Ferreira said of the 27 applications
submitted to the
court, 18 were disqualified as
they did not meet the minimum
requirement of 14,000
signatures of supporters who
are registered as voters,
among other reasons.
 
Among those rejected are
the Democratic Block (BD), led
by former ruling party member
Justino Pinto de Andrade;
and Popular Party (PP), which
was formed by lawyer David
Mendes.
 
According to the National
Electoral Commission (CNE),
about nine million Angolans
are registered to vote in the
forthcoming elections.
CNE spokesperson Julia
Ferreira said more than 10,780
polling stations will be set up
around the country.
 
These will be the third elections
since Angola attained independence
from Portugal in
1975. The first post-independence
election was held in
1992, before the civil war was
re-ignited by UNITA led by
Jonas Savimbi, and the second
polls were held in 2008. The
conflict ended in 2002 with the
death of Savimbi.
 
The MPLA won by more
than 81 percent and has used
its commanding parliamentary
majority to pass a raft of
new laws including a new
constitution that has abolished
direct presidential elections
in favour of an electoral
college.
 
Under the new Electoral
Law, the President and Vice
President will be elected indirectly.
The head of state will
be chosen from the party
with the parliamentary majority.


title:
SADC urges implementation of 

Madagascar roadmap

Abstract:
SADC HAS  mandated former
Mozambican President,
Joaquim Chissano, to facilitate
a meeting between Madagascar’s
interim leader Andry Rajoelina
and deposed president
Marc Ravalomanana with a
view to speeding up implementation
of a peace roadmap
that is key to the holding of
credible elections.

body:
SADC HAS  mandated former
Mozambican President,
Joaquim Chissano, to facilitate
a meeting between Madagascar’s
interim leader Andry Rajoelina
and deposed president
Marc Ravalomanana with a
view to speeding up implementation
of a peace roadmap
that is key to the holding of
credible elections.  
The Extraordinary Summit
of SADC Heads of State and
Government held in Luanda,
Angola in June resolved that
Chissano should urgently facilitate
dialogue and convene
a meeting between Rajoelina
and Ravalomanana to bring
back on track the implementation
of a roadmap signed by
Malagasy political parties in
September 2011.
 
Chissano is the SADC mediator
in the Madagascar political
conflict.

The peace road-map
seeks to return the
country to constitutional
normalcy
following a 2009
coup that saw Rajoelina
unconstitutionally
remove
R a v a l o m a n a n a
from power with the
support of the
army. Madagascar
is currently
suspended from SADC.
“Summit mandated the
SADC mediator and the
Troika of the Organ to facilitate
dialogue and convene a
meeting between H.E. Andry
Rajoelina, president of the
High Transition Authority
and H.E Marc Ravalomanana,
former President as a matter
of urgency in order to ensure
full implementation of the
roadmap and create an enabling 

environment for
holding credible, free
and fair elections,”
the SADC leaders
said in a communiqué.
The road-map
allows for the unconditional
return
from exile of Ravalomanana
and for
the establishment
of transitional institutions
ahead of elections.
The Extraordinary Summit
noted that a SADC Liaison
Office established in
November 2011 to support
the implementation process
was fully operational, with officers
from the Troika of the
Organ on Politics, Defence
and Security Cooperation and
representatives of the SADC
chair on the ground since January
2012.


title:
20 Years 

1992 - 2012


 
Roots of the Southern African
Development Community

Abstract:
THE TREATY  of the Southern
African Development Community
(SADC) was signed by
Heads of State and Government
in Windhoek, Namibia,
on 17 August 1992, soon after
Namibia’s independence, replacing
the Southern African
Development Coordination
Conference (SADCC) established
in April 1980 in Lusaka,
Zambia.

body:
THE TREATY  of the Southern
African Development Community
(SADC) was signed by
Heads of State and Government
in Windhoek, Namibia,
on 17 August 1992, soon after
Namibia’s independence, replacing
the Southern African
Development Coordination
Conference (SADCC) established
in April 1980 in Lusaka,
Zambia. 
This was based on the conclusion
by Heads of State and
Government that political independence
was almost complete
in the region, and their declaration,
“Southern Africa—Towards
Economic Liberation”. 
 
They pledged in the new
Treaty to “strengthen and consolidate
the longstanding historical,
social and cultural
affinities and links among the
people of the region.”
 
The Treaty states the SADC
principles as:  
• sovereign equality of all
Member States;
 
• solidarity, peace and security;
 
• human rights, democracy
and the rule of law;
 
• equity, balance and mutual
benefit; and,
 
• peaceful settlement of disputes.
SADC Common Agenda
 

The objectives of SADC are to
promote sustainable and equitable
economic growth and
socio-economic development,
enhance the standard and quality
of life of the people of
Southern Africa and support
the socially disadvantaged
through regional integration;
promote common political values,
systems and other shared
values through institutions that
are democratic, legitimate and
effective; and, consolidate, defend
and maintain democracy,
peace, security and stability.
 
Other objectives are to promote
self-sustaining development
on the basis of collective
self-reliance and the interdependence
of Member States;
align national and regional
strategies and programmes;
maximise productive employment;
achieve sustainable utilisation
of natural resources and
effective protection of the environment;
combat HIV and
AIDS and other communicable
diseases; address poverty eradication;
and mainstream gender
in the process of community
building.

The Treaty presents several
initiatives intended to achieve
these objectives, including harmonisation
of political and
socio-economic policies and
plans; and encouraging the
people of the region and their
institutions to take their own
initiatives to develop economic,
social and cultural ties across
the region, and to participate
fully in the implementation of
the programmes and projects of SADC


Abstract:
Five countries celebrate their heroes and
heritage in this period.

body:
Five countries celebrate their 

heroes and
heritage in this period.
 13-14 August.  Zimbabwe 

commemorates
National Heroes Day
and Armed Forces Day to honour those
who fought the war of national 

liberation, and
those killed by Rhodesian atrocities 

such as Freedom
Camp in Zambia and Nyadzonia in 

Mozambique where thousands
of unarmed civilians lost their 

lives.
 
 26 August. Namibia marks 

Heroes Day (Namibia Day)
when thousands of Namibians gather 

at different venues
each year to remember their heroes 

on the date of the official launch
of the long and bitter struggle for 

independence when the first bullet
was fired in 1966 at 

Omugulu-Gwombashe in the Omusati 

region.
 
Three days in Mozambique. 7 

September, 25 September,
 4 October. Mozambique 

commemorates three important
dates, starting 7 September, when 

the historic agreement was signed
with Portugal in 1974 in Lusaka, 

bringing a ceasefire and transition
to independence. Armed Forces Day on 

25 September marks the
start of the liberation war when the 

first shots were fired at in the
northern Cabo Delgado province in 

1964. Peace and Reconciliation
Day marks the peace agreement signed 

in Rome in 1992 following
16 years of conflict and two years 

of arduous negotiations led by
Armando Emilio Guebuza, now 

President of Mozambique and
forthcoming Chairperson of SADC.
 


 17 September.  Angola 

remembers Agostinho Neto, the
founding President and symbol of 

Angolan nationalism,
born on this date in 1922 and died 

in 1979 at the age of 56 after 

leading
the liberation war that brought 

independence from Portugal in
1975.
 
 24 September.  South Africa 

celebrates its cultural heritage
each year on this date to encourage 

all South Africans to
celebrate the diversity of their 

beliefs and traditions. The theme 

for
Heritage Month 2011 was “Celebrating 

the Heroes and Heroines of
the Liberation Struggle in South 

Africa”, to reconnect the nation
with its rich and diverse collective 

liberation heritage.


title:
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN SADC 

August - September 2012

body:
1 August Parents Day DRC 
 

6 August Farmers Day Zambia 
 

8 August Nane Nane Peasant Day Tanzania 
 

9 August National Women’s Day South Africa 
 

13 August Heroes Day Zimbabwe 
 

14 August Defence Forces Day Zimbabwe 
 

15 August Assumption Day Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles 
 

17 August SADC Day* All 
 
 
19 August Eid Ul Fitr** Malawi, Mauritius,
Tanzania 
 

20 August Public Holiday Malawi, Tanzania 
 

26 August Heroes Day Namibia 
 

27 August Public Holiday Namibia 
 
 
* SADC Day is not a public holiday but a commemoration of signing the
SADC Treaty on 17 August 1992

**Exact date depends on sighting of the new moon  
 

3 September Umhlanga Reed Dance Swaziland 
 

6 September Somhlolo Independence Day Swaziland 
 

7 September Lusaka Peace Agreement Day Mozambique 
 

17 September National Heroes Day Angola 
 

20 September Ganesh Chaturthi Mauritius 
 

24 September Heritage Day South Africa 
 

25 September Armed Forces Day Mozambique 
 

30 September Botswana Day Botswana


body:
August
1-3,  South Africa 
 Agrarian 

Transformation, Economic Development 

&
Land Reform Conference 
 
The event will bring together 

agricultural experts, researchers,
academics and parliamentarians from
African countries to discuss key 

issues on agriculture
and land reform, including access to 

improved seeds
and women’s land tenure rights.
 


 
August 12-18, Mozambique 
 SADC 

Summit of Heads of State and 

Government
 
 SADC leaders meet to discuss issues 

aimed at promoting
regional integration and 

development. The summit
is preceded by meetings of senior 

officials and Council
of Ministers.
 
 
August 13-24,Zimbabwe  
  

Southern African Region Climate 

Outlook Forum 
 
Scientists from the national 

meteorological services in
SADC member states meet to review 

the regional climate
outlook The SARCOF conference 13-21 

August
is followed by an annual forecasting 

process 22-14 August
when the experts use indicators of 

seasonal rainfall
to produce a regional forecast for 

the 2012-2013
rainfall season.
 
 
August 26-31, Sweden, 
  World 

Water Week 
 
World Water Week has been the annual 

focal point for
global water issues since 1991. 

Commemorated in
Stockholm, Sweden, each year World 

Water Week addresses
a particular theme to enable a 

deeper examination
of a specific water-related topic. 

This year’s
theme is “Water and Food Security”.

 
 
September 4-5,South Africa 
  

Solar Energy Africa
  
The conference will provide 

information on the financial
mechanisms necessary for solar 

energy to offer an
extensive solution to current energy 

shortages in Africa
and the infrastructure developments 

needed to support
an effective supply chain between 

independent
providers and the grid. It will also 

showcase the latest
solar energy technologies 

available.
 
 
September 10-14,Tanzania 
  

African Ministerial Conference on 

the Environment
14th Regular Session (AMCEN-14) will 

provide a platform
for environment ministers from 

African countries
to debate the key results of the UN 

Conference on Sustainable
Development (Rio+20), and address 

other
emerging issues related to 

sustainable development
and the environment in Africa.
 


 
September 12-14, South Africa  
  

Meeting of the Committee of Central 

Bank Officials
The Committee of Central Bank 

Officials and the Committee
of Central Bank Governors is a SADC 

regional
structure that deals with the 

development of financial
institutions and markets, 

co-operation regarding international
and regional financial relations, 

and monetary,
investment and foreign exchange 

policies.

  
October 8-12, Ethiopia 
  5th AU 

Ministerial Conference on Drug 

Control
 
 
The conference will review and 

strengthen mechanisms
for shared responsibility for 

illicit drugs in Africa
and discuss the proposed revised 

African Union Plan
of Action on Drug Control 

(2013-2018). The ministers
will also discuss an African Common 

Position on Controlled
Substances and Pain Management.


title:
SADC Development Fund 
  Infrastructure blueprint
 key to regional integration

Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICA  has taken a significant
step forward in its quest for deeper regional integration
following the approval of a longawaited
blueprint that outlines the region’s
vision for infrastructure development.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICA  has taken a significant
step forward in its quest for deeper regional integration
following the approval of a longawaited
blueprint that outlines the region’s
vision for infrastructure development.
The Summit of SADC Heads of State and
Government held in Maputo, Mozambique, in
August endorsed a number of measures on the
way forward for the region with regard to economic
integration and political cooperation.
  
The highlight of the Summit was the adoption
of the Regional Infrastructure Development
Master Plan Vision 2027, a 15-year
blueprint that will guide the implementation of
cross-border infrastructure projects from 2013
to 2027.
 
“The plan will serve as a key strategic
framework to guide the implementation of efficient,
seamless and cost-effective trans-boundary
infrastructure networks in an integrated
and coordinated manner in all the six sectors,
namely Energy, Transport, Tourism, ICT and
Postal, Meteorology and Water,” SADC said in
a communiqué issued after the Summit.
 
The master plan will be implemented in
three five-year phases – short term (2012-2017),
medium term (2017-2022) and long term (2022-
2027).
 
In the energy sector, for example, the plan addresses
four key areas of energy security, improving
access to modern energy services,
tapping the abundant energy resources and upscaling
financial investment whilst enhancing
environmental sustainability.
 
Regarding the sub-sectors of road, rail,
ports, inland waterways and air transport networks,
the Transport Sector Plan also addresses
four critical areas, namely improving access to
the seamless transport corridors value chain; reducing
the cost of transportation; enhancing
competitiveness and providing safe and secure
transport services.
 
Other key areas to be targeted include the
water, tourism, meteorology and information
communication technology sectors to ensure
socio-economic development in the region.
 
The master plan is in line with the African
Union’s Programme for Infrastructure Development
of Africa (PIDA) and will constitute a
key input to the proposed Infrastructure Master
Plan for the Tripartite grouping covering half of
the AU member states, encompassing the Common
Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA), East African Community (EAC)
and SADC.
 
Summit noted progress
towards the operationalization
of the SADC Regional
Development Fund, a financial
mechanism for mobilising
resources from Member
States, the private sector and
development partners.
 
The Fund, which was approved
by the Council of Ministers
that preceded Summit,
will be used to finance SADC
programmes and projects.
 
Agreement was reached
by the ministers on various
aspects of the Fund, including
windows for financing
the priority areas of infrastructure
and industrial development.
 
The Fund will have a subscribed
capital of US$1.2 billion
to be raised as seed
capital.
 
Summit directed ministers
responsible for finance and investment
in the region to urgently
address modalities for
operationalizing the Fund.
These include the size of the
Fund as well as voting rights
and management structure.
 
Identified priority infrastructure
projects will require
about US$500 billion to be
implemented, with transport,
energy and water taking up
the major share of the funding
requirements.
 
An investment conference
is scheduled for between
January and March
2013 to lure potential investors
for the identified regional
infrastructure projects
while road shows are also
planned in Asia, Europe and
the United States for the
same purpose.
 
Summit also received a
report by the Ministerial Task
Force on Regional Economic
Integration on the framework
for the proposed SADC
Customs Union, whose
launch was proposed in
2010. The report outlined
a roadmap for the
Customs Union, including
parameters, benchmarks
and a draft model
Customs Union for the region.
 
The Task Force was mandated
to work closely with
the SADC Secretariat to ensure
preparatory work for
the Customs Union begins.
On the SADC Free Trade
Area (FTA), the leaders noted
that this was work in
progress but acknowledged
that one of the emerging issues
was the need to prioritise
industrialisation to
address the problem of unequal
levels of development
among member states.
 
Different levels of development
have been cited as an
area of major concern among
smaller member states who
feel that larger economies
stand to benefit more from
the FTA.
 
The SADC Summit endorsed
a series of recommendations
on the way forward
for Madagascar, following
the submission of the report
of the Troika on Politics,
Peace, and Security.
 
“Since the two Malagasy
leaders themselves have not
come to an agreement, it has
been up to the SADC Summit
to map out the way forward,
particularly taking into account
the risk of the security
situation in the country,” said
Seychelles President James
Michel.
 
Seychelles played a key
supporting role in the preparation
of the recommendations
by hosting the two
meetings held between former
President Marc Ravalo-
manana and President of the
Transition Authority Andry
Rajoelina, and also through
its participation in the SADC
consultation mission to
Madagascar in August.
 
Following the meetings in
Seychelles, where no agreement
was reached between
the leaders, Summit mapped
out the steps to be taken to
ensure that the preparation
of elections goes smoothly.
 
The key recommendations
of Summit were the full
endorsement of the elections
calendar proposed by the
United Nations and the
Commission Electoral National
Independente de la
Transition (CENIT). Presidential
elections will thus
take place on 8 May 2013.
 
While Summit could not
pronounce itself on whether
Rajoelina and Ravalomanana
could present themselves for
the forthcoming elections or
not, it took note of the report
of the consultation mission
that the proposal for both
leaders not to stand would
offer the best route towards
ensuring peaceful elections.
 
Summit also recognized
the risk of violence and instability
in relation to the eventual
return of former
President Ravalomanana,
and asked the SADC Secretariat
to dispatch a team of
security experts to Madagas
car to assess the security
environment with a
view to making recommendations
on the return
of the former president.
 
“We are pleased that the
recommendations have stipulated
that great care is taken
with regards to the modalities
for the return of the former
president to safeguard a
secure environment to prepare
elections,” said Michel.
 
The return of the former
President will be done in
consultation with the Transition
Government security
forces to ensure that the stability
of the country is maintained.
 
“We also take note that
the proposal for both leaders
not to stand in the election offers
perhaps the simplest solution.
We urge both leaders
to continue discussions with
a view to finding a solution
that prioritizes the Malagasy
people.”
 
The Summit also called
for full implementation of the
amnesty in favour of Ravalomanana.
 
On the suspended SADC
Tribunal, Summit resolved
that a new Protocol on the
Tribunal should be negotiated
and that the court’s
mandate be confined to the
interpretation of the SADC
Treaty and Protocols relating
to disputes between member
states.
 
Summit approved and
signed the Draft Agreement
on Assistance in Tax Matters;
Draft Protocol on Trade in
Services; and a Draft Declaration
on Tuberculosis in the
Mining Sector.  sardc.net


Abstract:
MEMBER STATES have been
urged to adopt measures to accelerate
progress towards the
target of equal representation
for women and men in political
and other decision-making
structures.

body:
MEMBER STATES have been
urged to adopt measures to accelerate
progress towards the
target of equal representation
for women and men in political
and other decision-making
structures. 
SADC Heads of State and
Government have committed
themselves to achieving gender
parity and reaching 50 percent
representation of women in political
decision-making structures
by 2015. 
  
SADC recognizes that the
equal and meaningful political
participation of women, who
constitute more than half of the
populations of Member States,
is an important democratic advancement
for the region. 
  
This was reflected in the
SADC Protocol on Gender and
Development signed by SADC
Heads of State and Government
on the 17 August 2008 in Johannesburg,
South Africa where
commitment was made on 28
clauses regarding gender equality,
among others, to reach at
least 50 percent of women representation
and participation in
decision-making positions by
2015. 
  
The final communiqué from
the 32nd SADC Summit in Maputo
in August 2012 “urged
Member States to consider
adoption of appropriate measures,
including legislation, policy
and reform of the electoral
systems, to facilitate the
achievement of (the) gender
parity goal.” 
  
Some positive trends have
been noted in the SADC region
in terms of the movement towards
gender parity, but some
advances have not been sustained.
 
  
SADC Member States
worked together to support the
first women candidate to take
the top job at the African Union
Commission, and the region has
had two women presidents in
current President Joyce Banda
of Malawi and the former Acting
President of Mauritius,
Monique Ohsan-Bellepeau. 
  
Seven countries –
Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique,
South Africa, Swaziland,
Tanzania and Zimbabwe – have
had woman Speakers or presiding
officers of parliament since
1994. 
  
With three years left before
the 2015 deadline for attaining
gender parity, most Member
States have already instituted
measures to accelerate the
agreed measures, although
two SADC Member States
(Botswana and Mauritius) have
not yet signed the Protocol. 
  
These include the development
of national roadmaps
with concrete actions to be
taken to implement the 50:50
Framework by 2015. 
  
They have also initiated
consultations at Member State
level to galvanise national efforts
through domestication of
various regional and international
commitments made by
countries with regard to gender
equality and the empowerment
of women. 
  
There are plans to
strengthen capacity-building
programmes for women and
gender training for key national
structures and institutions, as
well as engage all political parties
to adopt gender parity
strategies.


Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICAN leaders
have directed that a Protocol
on the SADC Tribunal and
Rules of Procedure Thereof be
negotiated and the jurisdiction
of the new Tribunal be confined
only to an advisory role
and interpretation of the SADC
Treaty and any protocols that
may be negotiated among
Member States.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICAN leaders
have directed that a Protocol
on the SADC Tribunal and
Rules of Procedure Thereof be
negotiated and the jurisdiction
of the new Tribunal be confined
only to an advisory role
and interpretation of the SADC
Treaty and any protocols that
may be negotiated among
Member States. 
According to a final communiqué
issued at the end of
the 32nd Summit of SADC
Heads of State and Government,
SADC leaders “resolved
that a new Protocol on the Tribunal
should be negotiated
and its mandate should be confined
to interpretation of the
SADC Treaty and Protocols relating
to disputes between
Member States.”
  
The Tribunal was established
through an amendment
to the SADC Treaty and was
constituted to ensure adherence
to and the proper interpretation
of the provisions of
the Treaty and subsidiary instruments
and to adjudicate
upon disputes that may be referred
to it by governments or
individuals.
  
Summit suspended the
work of the Tribunal in 2010
and ordered a review of the
role and jurisdiction of the re-
gional court, after some countries
objected to its constitution
through an amendment rather
than a separate protocol requiring
ratification by due process
in all member states.
  
In 2011, the Summit extended
the suspension of the
Tribunal, mandating “the Ministers
of Justice/Attorneys
General to initiate the process
aimed at amending the relevant
SADC legal instruments
and submit a progress report at
the Summit in August 2011 and
the final report to Summit in
August 2012.”
  
The Committee of Ministers
of Justice/Attorney-Generals
had during the past two
years tried to develop a revised
Protocol but have failed to
agree on some issues.
One of the sticking issues
was the introduction of a new
Article 55 on Transitional Provisions.
Among other issues,
the Article suggested that a reconstituted
Tribunal under a
Revised Protocol could take
over existing cases of the old
Tribunal.
  
Some Member States opposed
introduction of the Article,
arguing that once the
Revised Protocol entered into
force, the old Protocol would
no longer have effect and any
actions or cases heard previously
would cease to have effect.


title:
Call for increased action against HIV and AIDS

Abstract:
SUMMIT URGED Member
States to support the implementation
of regional programmes
to combat the
spread of HIV and AIDS.

body:
SUMMIT URGED Member
States to support the implementation
of regional programmes
to combat the
spread of HIV and AIDS.
Noting progress in the
implementation of the
Maseru Declaration of 2003
on combating HIV and
AIDS, SADC heads of state
and government called for
the scaling up of efforts to reduce
new infections and encourage
positive behavioural
change among the youth.
  
Ongoing regional programmes
include the SADC
HIV and AIDS cross-border
initiative for providing preventive,
care and treatment
services at border points.
  
The increased flow of
commercial traffic has resulted
in a high prevalence of
HIV and AIDS among highrisk
and undocumented migrant
populations in border
towns.


title:
Leaders approve Draft Protocol on Trade in Services

Abstract:
SADC HAS approved the
long-awaited Draft Protocol
on Trade in Services which
aims to provide a framework
for progressive liberalization
of trade in six priority services
sectors among Member States.

body:
SADC HAS approved the
long-awaited Draft Protocol
on Trade in Services which
aims to provide a framework
for progressive liberalization
of trade in six priority services
sectors among Member States.

The idea of a regional
agreement on trade in services
in SADC was first formalized
in 2002 when trade ministers
agreed during a meeting in
Botswana to include an Annex
on Trade in Services to the
SADC Protocol on Trade.
   
Concern was then raised on
whether an Annex to the
Trade Protocol was the adequate
legal form of responding
to the needs of trade in
services, necessitating the
commencement of discussions
on the Draft Protocol on Trade
in Services.
   
The ministers agreed that
negotiations would initially
target services provided by
the communications, construction,
energy, finance,
tourism and transport sectors.
   
The Draft Protocol on Trade
in Services was adopted by
ministers responsible for trade
in July 2009 but was presented
for signature by Heads of State
and Government at their 32nd
Summit in August in Mozambique
following clearance by
the Committee of Ministers of
Justice/Attorneys General.
   
The draft protocol contains
general obligations on Member
States such as on transparency,
granting of most
favourite nation status, and
domestic regulation.
   
It provides a framework for
progressive removal of barriers
to trade in services, initially
in the six priority sectors.
   
At their meeting in November
2011, the Ministers responsible
for trade in the SADC
region approved the commencement
of negotiations on
the liberalization commit-
ments in the six priority sectors.
   
The first negotiating meeting
was scheduled for April
2012 at which Member States
were expected to develop a
roadmap for the negotiations
and agree on the organization
of the negotiations.
   
Developments during the
past few decades have necessitated
the need for a regional
agreement on trade in services.
Trade in services is growing
at a very fast pace partly due
to developments in information
and communication technology.
   
In southern Africa, the
service sector accounts for an
increasing share of Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) and employment.
   
Services play a key role in
regional integration, including
infrastructure building, competitiveness
and trade facilitation.
   
Transport, logistics and distribution
services are crucial
for moving goods and services
from one country to another
while telecommunication and
financial services reduce transaction
costs and support trade.
   
Increased trade in services
can also contribute to achieving
the Millennium Development
Goals set by Member States by
contributing to social development
and poverty reduction.
   
There is, however, some
overlap between the six priority
areas identified for liberalization
in the Draft Protocol
on Trade in Services and existing
agreements for harmonization
within SADC.
   
SADC has already concluded
specific protocols on
tourism; energy; transport,
communications and meteorology;
and finance and investment.
   
One of the challenges in developing
the draft services protocol
has been to ensure that it
is not in conflict with any of the
provisions contained in the existing
protocols.


Abstract:
WINNERS OF the 2012 SADC Media
Awards were presented with prizes during
the opening ceremony of the 32nd Summit
of SADC Heads of State and Government in
Maputo, Mozambique.

body:
WINNERS OF the 2012 SADC Media
Awards were presented with prizes during
the opening ceremony of the 32nd Summit
of SADC Heads of State and Government in
Maputo, Mozambique. 
Incoming SADC chairperson, President
Armando Guebuza of Mozambique presented
the awards to the winners.
  
Three of the Awards were for excellence
in reporting on water resources management
in southern Africa while the other three were
for excellence in promoting regional integration.
  
Factmore Dzobo from Zimbabwe received
the award for the best print journalist
for his article on the importance of involving
women in the management of water.
  
The award in the radio water category
went to Belmiro Mangaze of Mozambique
for his report on the importance of water in
regional and national development.
  
Lesotho Times photo journalist,
Ramajake Monamane received the Photo
Water Award for his photos depicting the
plight of people in a village in Lesotho in
need of clean, safe and potable drinking
water.
  
Awards for excellence in coverage of
water resources management were introduced
in 2007 by the SADC Water Sector
programme to strengthen awareness on
water issues within the region, as well as to
encourage journalists to write about Integrated
Water Resources Management
(IWRM).
  
The awards for excellence in promoting
regional integration in SADC went to Yobe
Shonga from Botswana who scooped the
prize for the photo category while Patson
Phiri of Zambia and Jugdish Jatoo from
Mauritius received the awards for the print
and television categories.


title:
Summit discusses framework for SADC Customs Union

Abstract:
SADC HAS reviewed progress
in the implementation of the regional
economic integration
agenda and resolved to continue
with preparations for the
launch of the proposed Customs
Union.

body:
SADC HAS reviewed progress
in the implementation of the regional
economic integration
agenda and resolved to continue
with preparations for the
launch of the proposed Customs
Union.
Summit received the report
of the Ministerial Task Force on
Regional Economic Integration
on the framework for the
SADC Customs Union.
  
The report outlined the key
elements of the proposed Cus-
toms Union such as the parameters,
benchmarks, a model
customs union for the region
and the timing of activities
leading to the launch of the
union.
  
The overall goal of SADC’s
regional economic integration
is to facilitate trade and financial
liberalization, competitive
and diversified industrial development
and increased investment
through the
establishment of a SADC Common
Market.
  
The SADC Regional Indicative
Strategic Development
Plan (RISDP), which is currently
under review, outlined
the indicative timelines to establish
the SADC Free Trade Area
by 2008, the SADC Customs
Union by 2010, the SADC Common
Market by 2015 and SADC
Monetary Union by 2016.
  
The SADC FTA came into
force on 1 January 2008 following
implementation of agreed
tariff phase-down commitments
between 2000 and 2007.
Two countries, Angola and
the Democratic Republic of
Congo, have said they will
join the FTA later.
  
The SADC Customs Union
was not realised in 2010 as
planned, with the main challenge
being the overlapping
memberships. Almost all
SADC Member States, with the
exception of Angola and
Mozambique, belong to existing
Customs Unions.
  
Technically, a Member State
cannot belong to more than one
Customs Union because of the
Common External Tariff. Member
States, therefore, have to
choose which Customs Union
they want to belong to and
their decisions may have overall
implications for SADC.
  
In view of these challenges,
the SADC Summit in Windhoek
in August 2010 reaffirmed
its commitment to establish a
SADC Customs Union and
recognised the need to establish
synergies between the
processes to consolidate the
SADC FTA, the Customs
Union and the proposed Tripartite
FTA involving the Common
Market for Eastern and
Southern Africa, East African
Community and SADC.
  
The 2010 Summit endorsed
the decision of the Ministerial
Task Force on Regional Economic
Integration to appoint a
High Level Expert Group
(HLEG) on the SADC Customs
Union whose mandate was to
consolidate and refine previous
technical work undertaken in
order to reach agreement and
common understanding on key
elements such as the parame-
ters, benchmarks and timelines
of a model Customs
Union and its implementation
modalities.
  
The HLEG submitted it report
on the SADC Customs
Union framework to the ministerial
task force in November
2011.
  
South African International
Relations and Cooperation
Minister, Maite Nkoana-
Mashabane said the immediate
priority for SADC was to consolidate
the FTA in terms of a
15-point action plan matrix
agreed by the Member States.
The action plan focuses on
the review of rules of origin,
completion of tariff phase
downs and removal of non tariff
barriers.
  
“It is important to ensure
full implementation by Member
States of the FTA while, on
the other hand, resolve the
issue of overlapping membership
before progressing towards
a SADC Customs
Union,” she said.
  
The SADC Secretariat, in
partnership with Member
States, is currently engaged in a
review of the RISDP towards reconfiguring
the SADC roadmap
to guide the regional integration
process aligned to realistic,
measureable and deliverable
milestones and timelines.


Abstract:
SUMMIT MANDATED incoming
SADC chairperson,
President Armando Emilio
Guebuza of Mozambique to
engage Rwandan President
Paul Kagame to seek his commitment
to stop military support
to rebels in eastern
Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC).

body:
SUMMIT MANDATED incoming
SADC chairperson,
President Armando Emilio
Guebuza of Mozambique to
engage Rwandan President
Paul Kagame to seek his commitment
to stop military support
to rebels in eastern
Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC).
The communiqué from the
Summit called on Rwanda “to
cease immediately its interference
that constitutes a threat to
peace and stability, not only of
the DRC, but also of the SADC
region”, and mandated Guebuza
to visit Rwanda in order
“to engage the government of
Rwanda with the aim of urging
it to stop military support to
armed rebels in the DRC”.
  
The summit accused
Rwanda of interfering in the
DRC, by supporting the rebels
of the M23 movement.


title:
Mozambican President Guebuza new SADC chair

Abstract:
MOZAMBICAN PRESIDENT
Armando Emilio Guebuza
is the new SADC
chairperson, while his Malawian
counterpart Joyce Banda
has been elected deputy.

body:
MOZAMBICAN PRESIDENT
Armando Emilio Guebuza
is the new SADC
chairperson, while his Malawian
counterpart Joyce Banda
has been elected deputy.
Guebuza assumed the rotating
chair from President
Jose Eduardo dos Santos of
Angola, who hosted the
SADC Summit in 2011.
  
Therefore, Mozambique,
Malawi and Angola as the
current, next and immediate
past chairpersons, make up
the SADC Troika. The next
summit is scheduled for
Malawi in August/September
2013.
  
The SADC Organ on Politics,
Defence and Security
Cooperation is now chaired
by President Jakaya Kikwete
of the United Republic of
Tanzania, with Namibian
President Hifikepunye Pohamba
as deputy. South
Africa, as the immediate past
chair is also on the Organ
Troika.
  
In his acceptance speech,
Guebuza said he will use his
tenure as SADC chair to further
strengthen infrastructure
development in the region.
  
“We recognise that infrastructure
plays a vital role in
regional integration. It is in
this regard that the SADC
Infrastructure Development
Master Plan should be looked
at,” Guebuza said.


title:
SADC creates fund to accelerate infrastructure development

Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICA is taking
steps to accelerate investment
in infrastructure,
considered one of the key facilitators
of regional integration.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICA is taking
steps to accelerate investment
in infrastructure,
considered one of the key facilitators
of regional integration.
The SADC Council of Ministers
has approved the setting
up of a long-awaited Regional
Development Fund, one of
whose main priorities will be
the financing of infrastructure
in the region.
  
According to SADC Deputy
Executive Secretary responsible
for regional integration,
João Caholo, the proposed
fund will have a subscribed
capital of US$1.2 billion. 
  
“We have been mandated by
Council to look into issues to do
with the development fund
such as the voting and management
structure,” Caholo said at
the close of the two-day Council
of Ministers held ahead of the
32nd Summit of SADC Heads
of State and Government in
Maputo, Mozambique.
  
He said the SADC Secretariat
was also mandated by
Council to ascertain how much
the fund’s issued capital will.
“We are looking at something
between US$10 and
US$250 million,” he said. 
  
Funding for the proposed
facility is expected to come
from member states, but “we
will not shun away from the
private sector”.
  
“We want to bring them on
board so that they show their
willingness to develop the region.
We also hope to bring on
board our development partners,”
Caholo said.
  
The proposed fund will be
used for regional integration.
The first priority will be infrastructure
development and the
second priority will be linking
infrastructure to overall development.
  
Although the focus for regional
cooperation has
shifted to investment promotion
and production over the
past 32 years, infrastructure
development remains a key
driver of regional integration
in the SADC region and was
prioritised in the Regional
Indicative Strategic Development
Plan (RISDP) in 2003
as a facilitator of intra-regional
trade and economic
growth.
  
The RISDP is SADC’s 15-
year development blueprint.
The main sectors of focus
for the SADC infrastructure
programme are Energy, Transport,
Telecommunications,
Water and Tourism.
  
The major development
strategy followed by SADC is
the corridor development concept,
otherwise known as the
Spatial Development Initiative
(SDI), a strategy that recognizes
the interdependence of
various sectors.
  
For example, the SDI concept
recognizes that sectors
such as tourism, agriculture,
mining or commerce cannot
reach their full development
potential without being supported
by a vibrant and adequate
energy, water, transport
and communications infrastructure.
  
The main attraction is
that the strategy basically
takes advantage of the existence
of proven, inherent,
underutilized economic development
potential within
the SDIs.
  
The concept of SDIs was
popularized in SADC with the
advent of the generally successful
Maputo Development
Corridor in 1995.
  
Hailed as a successful model
that attracted private sector investment
in support of the public
sectors of Mozambique and
South Africa, the Maputo Corridor
was the first of its kind at
a regional level that brought
about integrated development
tracing what is both a transport
and trade route.
  
Despite its limitations, for
example failing to divert traffic
from the North-South Corridor
(from Durban port through Johannesburg
in South Africa to
Zimbabwe and further north),
the project was a huge success
in terms of job creation, especially
on the Mozambican side
where as many as 15,000 jobs
were created at the aluminium
smelting plant Mozal and other
projects.
  
The development strategy
has been used to inform regional
development predominantly
along transport or trade
routes, energy transmission
grids, tourism conservation
areas, river basins, and regional
and international
telecommunication backbones.
However, most SDIs are
still at planning stage waiting
to be fully funded and, therefore,
taken to the implementation
level.
  
Southern Africa’s longawaited
regional infrastructure
development master plan
was approved by the SADC
Heads of State and Government
Summit held in Maputo
in August.
  
This follows the finalisation
of the master plan by ministers
responsible for infrastructure
who met in Luanda, Angola in
late June.
  
The master plan will guide
development in key infrastructure
such as road, rail and
ports, and would also act as a
framework for planning and
cooperation with development
partners and the private sector.
sardc.net


title:
Companies bid for Shire-Zambezi waterway feasibility study

Abstract:
SIX COMPANIES have submitted
bids to conduct a feasibility
study for Shire-Zambezi
Waterway Project to review the
possibility of opening the two
rivers to international navigation.

body:
SIX COMPANIES have submitted
bids to conduct a feasibility
study for Shire-Zambezi
Waterway Project to review the
possibility of opening the two
rivers to international navigation.
According to Malawian
Transport Minister Sidik Mia,
the purpose of the study is to
assess the environmental impact
of navigation along the
rivers from the Mozambican
district of Chinde, at the mouth
of the Zambezi, to the Malawian
river port of Nsanje, on the
Shire.
    
The bids are now under consideration
by the Malawian
government, the SADC Secretariat
and the African Development
Bank.  AIM


title:
Normal to above-normal rainfall forecast for southern Africa

Abstract:
WEATHER EXPERTS in southern
Africa have forecast normal
to above-normal rainfall in
most parts of the region for the
2012/13 agricultural season.

body:
WEATHER EXPERTS in southern
Africa have forecast normal
to above-normal rainfall in
most parts of the region for the
2012/13 agricultural season.
According to the 16th
Southern Africa Regional Climate
Outlook Forum (SARCOF
16) that met in Zimbabwe
in August, the coming rainfall
forecast has been divided into
two parts as usual, October-
December 2012 and January-
March 2013.
  
The Forum has forecast normal
to above-normal rainfall in
most parts of southern Africa
during the first half of the season
(October-December).
  
These areas include northern
and central Mozambique,
southern Tanzania, Malawi,
northern-most Zambia, bulk of
Angola, the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC),
Namibia and Zambia, eastern
half of Madagascar, northern
half of Zimbabwe, western
half of Botswana, central and
western parts of South Africa
and western Lesotho.
  
Increased chances of abovenormal
to normal rainfall are
expected in northern Tanzania,
eastern Madagascar and Mauritius.
  
However, northern DRC,
south-western Angola, southwestern
Zambia and coastal
areas of Namibia, southern
and western parts of Zimbabwe,
southern Mozambique,
western coastal areas
and north-eastern parts of
South Africa, western Madagascar
and the whole of Swaziland
have an increased chance
of receiving normal to belownormal
rainfall.
  
In the second half of the rainfall
season, the bulk of SADC is
expected to receive normal to
above-normal rainfall.
  
This covers Malawi, Zambia,
northern Mozambique,
bulk of Angola, Madagascar,
Namibia and Tanzania, southeastern
DRC, western half of
Botswana, most of central and
western parts of South Africa,
western parts of Lesotho and
northern half of Zimbabwe.
  
Above-normal to normal
rainfall is expected in the
northernmost Tanzania and
Mauritius.
  
However other parts of the
region are likely to receive normal
to below normal during
the same period.
  
These include the southern
half of Zimbabwe, eastern half
of Botswana, central South
Africa, eastern Lesotho, Swazi
land and southern Mozambique,
south-western Angola,
the western fringes of Namibia
and South Africa and southern-
most Madagascar.
  
The bulk of DRC and northernmost
Angola is expected to
have below-normal to normal
conditions in this period.
  
The rainfall outlook for
southern Africa was prepared
by climate scientists from national
meteorological and hydrological
services within the
SADC region, as well as the
SADC Drought Monitoring
Centre, and the International
Research Institute for Climate
and Society.
  
In developing this outlook,
climate scientists used statistical
and other climate prediction
schemes to determine
likelihoods of above-normal,
normal and below-normal
rainfall for each area.
  
Above-normal rainfall is defined
as lying within the
wettest third of rainfall
amounts recorded during the
30 years from 1971 and 2000
while below-normal is defined
as within the driest third of
rainfall amounts and normal is
the middle third.
  
The scientists also took into
account that El Niño–Southern
Oscillation (ENSO) is going to
be in a weak, warm phase projected
to persist into early 2013.
  
El Nino is a weather condition
which begins with the
warming of the waters in the
Western Pacific Ocean and eventually
affects the global climate.
  
The natural warming events
alter weather patterns worldwide,
probably causing
droughts in southern Africa or
contributing to their severity.
  
The La Nina is an opposite
of El Nino where the Pacific
Ocean begins with cooler waters
than the Indian Ocean and
wind moves from the Pacific
towards the latter. The occurrence
of La Nina results in unusually
heavy rains and
flooding in southern Africa.
  
The rainfall outlook was
prepared by climate scientists
from NMHSs, the SADC Climate
Services Centre and Intergovernmental
Authority on
Development Climate Prediction
and Applications Centre.
  
SARCOF 16 was hosted by
the Meteorological Services
Department of Zimbabwe.
  
The seasonal forecasts generated
through this SARCOF
process have become an important
planning tool for many
communities in southern
Africa.


title:
Interconnectors - conduits for SADC energy integration

Abstract:
THE SOUTHERN African Power Pool (SAPP) has identified six priority
transboundary transmission projects that are expected to improve
connectivity and electricity trading in the region by 2017.
The priority projects, estimated to cost US$5.6 billion, are part of
a portfolio of short to medium-tem projects being pursued by SAPP
with the aim of increasing the availability of electricity in the region
and connecting non-participating SADC Member States to the regional
power grid.

body:
THE SOUTHERN African Power Pool (SAPP) has identified six priority
transboundary transmission projects that are expected to improve
connectivity and electricity trading in the region by 2017.
The priority projects, estimated to cost US$5.6 billion, are part of
a portfolio of short to medium-tem projects being pursued by SAPP
with the aim of increasing the availability of electricity in the region
and connecting non-participating SADC Member States to the regional
power grid.
The priority transmission projects are the Mozambique-Malawi
interconnector; the Zimbabwe-Zambia-Botswana-Namibia (ZiZaBoNa)
interconnector; South Africa energy strengthening project;
Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya interconnector; interconnection of Angola;
and the Mozambique energy backbone projects.
   
There are three categories of priority transmission projects. The
first category is made up of transmission projects that aim to alleviate
congestion. The ZiZaBoNa project falls in this group.
The second group are those projects to interconnect non-operating
members. This mainly concerns evacuating power to the United
Republic of Tanzania from Zambia and Mozambique, as well as connecting
Angola to the regional grid.
  
The last category involves transmission projects related to new
generation projects such as Mozambique backbone project.
The interconnection of Angola, Malawi and the United Republic
of Tanzania to the regional grid has been one of SAPP’s priorities
for several years. All three Member States are presently not interconnected
to the SAPP grid.
  
Mozambique-Malawi Interconnector

The Mozambique-Malawi Transmission Interconnection Project is
expected to be completed by 2015 and will connect Malawi to the
SAPP, allowing two-way energy trade between the two countries.
This will ensure much-needed diversification in Malawi’s electricity
supply and allow the export of any off-peak power surpluses.
It will also provide Mozambique’s energy sector with a new revenue
source.
  
Under the project, Mozambique will build about 135 kilometres
of 220 kiloVolt (kV) transmission line and extend the existing
Matambo substation while on the Malawi side, approximately 75
km of 220 kV transmission line will be constructed and a new 220
kV substation installed.
  
The interconnection will allow Malawi to have access to the SAPP
market through Mozambique interconnected grid with Zimbabwe
and South Africa.
  
Malawian President Joyce Banda signed the agreement with her
Mozambican counterpart, Armando Guebuza, during a
state visit to Mozambique in May.
  
ZiZaBoNa 

The transmission interconnector project has the
capacity to increase power trading among participating
utilities, as well as provide an alternative
power transmission route and help
decongest the existing central transmission
corridor that currently passes through Zimbabwe.
  
The ZiZaBoNa project will help to provide another
wheeling path and, therefore, increase trade
between the northern and southern parts of SADC.
The initial capacity of the transmission interconnector
will be 300 megawatts (MW), which will later be increased
to 600MW.
  
The project is to be implemented in two phases.
The first phase will cover the construction of a 120-
kilometre 330 kilovolt line from Hwange Power
Station to Victoria Falls where a switching station
will be built on the Zimbabwe side. The line will
extend to a substation at Livingstone in Zambia.
The second phase will involve the construction
of a 300-km 330kV line from Livingstone to Katima
Mulilo in Namibia, through Pandamatenga in
Botswana.
  
The Zimbabwe-Zambia interconnector will be built as
a high voltage line with a transmission capacity of 430kV.
However, it will operate as a 330kV line during the first phase.
The ZiZaBoNa project will be organised as a Special Purpose Vehicle,
to be incorporated as a company in Namibia. The four utilities
will take 20 percent each of the equity.

According to SAPP, the project should be ready for implementation
by 2016.
  
South Africa strengthening transmission

South Africa has embarked on a 10-year programme to extend or reinforce
its transmission system and build new power stations as part
of measures to improve the reliability of supply.
  
Additional power stations and major power lines are being built
on a massive scale to meet rising electricity demand in South Africa.
According to Eskom's Transmission Development Plan (2011 to
2020), the utility requires investment of around R166 billion
up to 2020 to strengthen its capacity. This is expected to
grow to more than a trillion rand by 2026. Ultimately
Eskom plans to double its capacity to 80,000MW by
2026.
  
The project will result in several new transmission
lines being added to the system, with over 6,000 km
of 765kV and over 8,000 km of 400kV lines either
approved or proposed over the 10-year horizon.
Major network reinforcements are proposed to increase
supply to the Cape (South and West) and Kwa
Zulu Natal (East) grids.
  
There will also be integration of new power stations
in Limpopo province into the Eskom and SAPP grid.
This will require significant investment in transmission infrastructure
as the power stations are far from the main
load centres.
  
New high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) lines
are also planned to enable export of excess power
from Waterberg directly to load centres in Gauteng
and Kwa Zulu Natal requiring 1,700km of
800kV constructed HVDC lines.
  
These new transmission lines form part of the
long-term strategy to develop a main transmission
backbone from which regional power corridors can
be supported. The backbone and regional power corridor
network structure will allow for greater security
of supply as power from new power stations is integrated
more efficiently into the transmission network, enabling regional
trade through the SAPP grid.
  
Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya Interconnector

To integrate its power market, the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite
– comprising the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa,
East African Community and SADC – needs infrastructure to support
additional energy generation as well as regional transmission.
Existing power interconnectors in the Tripartite region are inadequate
for long distance transmission and unsuited for regional systems
integration.
  
The Tripartite, in collaboration with SAPP and the East African
Power Pool (EAPP), has prioritised the development of critical interconnectors,
including the Zambia-Tanzania-Kenya (ZTK) interconnector
to improve regional integration and energy trade within
and between the SAPP and EAPP.
  
Covering a distance of 1,600 km, the interconnector will have a
capacity of 400MW, and will be constructed as a double circuit 400
kV line in sections from Pensulo in Zambia to Isinya in Kenya
  
DRC-Angola Interconnector

This is one of several projects aimed at connecting non-operating
members of SAPP to the regional grid.

It will involve the construction of a 400kV transmission line
from the DRC to Angola, enabling trade between the two countries.
  
The DRC has vast electricity generation capacity that could be
useful to the fast-expanding Angolan economy, which is buoyed by
massive investments in mining and construction sectors.
  
Mozambique backbone project

This involves construction of a new electricity transmission line from
Tete, in the Zambezi Valley, to Maputo.

This line, known officially as the "Centre-South (CESUL) Project"
and unofficially as "the backbone" of the Mozambican electricity
grid, is crucial for carrying power southwards from
planned new power stations in Tete. These include the planned
dam at Mpanda Nkua, 60km downstream from the existing dam
at Cahora Bassa, a second power station at Cahora Bassa, and
coal-fired power stations built by the mining companies Vale and
Rio Tinto.
  
Without a new power line, the electricity generated at these new
power stations cannot reach the Maputo area or be exported to
South Africa.
  
CESUL will involve the construction of 1,340 km of 400 KV alternating
current transmission line and 1,250 km of 500 KV line, with
the capacity to carry 3,100 MW of power. Eight new sub-stations will
be built, and two existing ones will be expanded.

The African Development Bank has agreed to help finance the
construction the transmission line, estimated to cost US$1.8 billion.
The bank has pledged to provide up to US$ 400 million for the project.


title:
Botswana, Mozambique to build deepwater port

Abstract:
BOTSWANA AND Mozambique
have agreed to build a
deepwater port at Techobanine
in Maputo province that
will serve as an alternative exit
and entry point for landlocked
SADC Member States.

body:
BOTSWANA AND Mozambique
have agreed to build a
deepwater port at Techobanine
in Maputo province that
will serve as an alternative exit
and entry point for landlocked
SADC Member States.
The port is part of a project,
estimated to cost about US$7
billion, that also includes the
construction of a 1,100 km railway
line and an oil pipeline
linking the two countries.
  
Besides serving Botswana,
which is looking for a faster
outlet for its mineral resources,
the port would also
serve other countries such as
Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
The project will be undertaken
on a concession basis for
the various components.
  
The port is expected to occupy
an area of 30,000
hectares, including 11,000
hectares for industrial development,
and will be able to
process 200 million tonnes of
cargo per year.
  
About US$3 billion of the
financing will be invested in
Techobanine for the port, residential
houses, schools and a
hospital. The first construction
phase should begin in 2012
and last until 2015.
  
Techobanine is located 70
km south of the port of Ma-
puto and 20 km from Ponta do
Ouro on the South African
border.
  
The planned railway line
will link southern Mozambique
to Botswana, passing
through Zimbabwe.  AIM


title:
Seychelles, Mauritius set up commission to manage coastal zone

Abstract:
SEYCHELLES AND Mauritius
have established a commission
to manage the world's largest
offshore joint management
zone measuring 400,000 square
kilometres of continental shelf.

body:
SEYCHELLES AND Mauritius
have established a commission
to manage the world's largest
offshore joint management
zone measuring 400,000 square
kilometres of continental shelf. 
This will enable both countries
to jointly regulate seabed
activities, including the exploration
of petroleum and minerals,
as well as the conservation
and management of the living
resources of the seabed.
  
Officials from both countries
met in Seychelles in August
to launch the commission
and discuss the management
and regulation of activities in
the joint zone.
  
Seychelles Minister for
Land Use and Habitat, Christian
Lionnet said the new commission
"has the great
advantage of enabling the two
countries to immediately benefit
from the exploration, exploitation
and conservation of
the natural resources of the
area". Mauritius Secretary to
the Cabinet and Head of the
Civil Service, Suresh Seebal-
luck noted that “a new era of
cooperation, trust and mutual
understanding between the
two countries has emerged.”


title:
AfDB to co-finance Mozambique electricity "backbone"

Abstract:
THE AFRICAN Development
Bank (AfDB) says it will finance
construction of a new
electricity transmission line
from Tete to Maputo in
Mozambique.

body:
THE AFRICAN Development
Bank (AfDB) says it will finance
construction of a new
electricity transmission line
from Tete to Maputo in
Mozambique.
The line, known officially as
the “Centre-South (CESUL)
Project” and unofficially as “the
backbone” of the Mozambican
electricity grid, is crucial for carrying
power from the planned
new power stations in Tete.
   
These include the planned
Mpanda Nkua, 60 kilometres
downstream from the existing
dam at Cahora Bassa; a second
power station at Cahora Bassa;
and coal-fired power stations
built by the mining companies
Vale and Rio Tinto.
   
Without a new power line,
the electricity generated at
these new power stations cannot
reach the Maputo area or
be exported to South Africa.
The total cost of CESUL is
estimated at US$1.8 billion.
   
AfDB resident representative,
Joseph Ribeiro said the bank
could provide up to US$400
million.
   
CESUL requires the construction
of 1,340 kilometres of
400 kilovolt (KV) alternating
current transmission line and a
1,250 km of 500 KV line with
capacity to carry 3,100
megawatts of power.
   
Eight new sub-stations will
be built, and two existing ones
will be expanded.  AIM


Abstract:
MAURITIUS’ TRADE deficit
rose by about 20 percent in the
year to June, rising from
US$170 million in 2011 to
US$203.3 million.

body:
MAURITIUS’ TRADE deficit
rose by about 20 percent in the
year to June, rising from
US$170 million in 2011 to
US$203.3 million.
According to figures from
Statistics Mauritius, imports
rose to US$426.67 million in
June compared to US$366.7
million in the corresponding
month in 2011.
   
The rising deficit was attributed
to the increased importation
of foodstuffs and
petroleum products.
   
At the same time, the Indian
Ocean island country's
exports grew from US$196.7
million in June 2011 to US$220
million this year.
   
In terms of the export markets,
Britain was the main destination
for Mauritian
products, with purchases
worth US$36.7 million.
   
The French market was
the second largest destination,
with US$26.5 million
worth of Mauritian imports,
ahead of the United States
with US$21.6 million and
South Africa with US$17.8
million.
   
With regard to the country's
main source markets,
India accounted for US$93.3
million worth of imports
while China was second, with
US$70 million.
   
According to Statistics
Mauritius, the trade deficit
could rise to 2.83 billion dollars
by end of 2012.  Xinhua


Abstract:
THE CURRENT SADC chairperson,
President Armando
Guebuza of Mozambique, has
been re-elected to a second
term as president of the ruling
party.

body:
THE CURRENT SADC chairperson,
President Armando
Guebuza of Mozambique, has
been re-elected to a second
term as president of the ruling
party. 
Guebuza was elected unopposed
by more than 1,800 delegates
who attended the 10th
Frelimo Congress held in September
in Pemba, capital of the
northern province of Cabo Delgado.
   
The Mozambique Liberation
Front (Frelimo) was established
in 1962 to liberate the country
from colonial rule (achieved
1975), and celebrated its 50th
anniversary this year.
   
Guebuza’s re-election
means that Frelimo will choose
a different presidential candidate
to contest general elections
set for 2014, not the party
leader.
   
He will continue to lead the
party, and another colleague
will head the country if Frelimo
wins the next election.
   
Traditionally Frelimo's
leader becomes its automatic
presidential candidate, but
Guebuza is already serving his
second five-year term as the
country's president, the limit
set by the constitution.
   
This is not the first time Frelimo
has elected a president
who will not be its presidential
candidate in national elections.
This happened previously
during the party’s 8th Congress
in 2002 when Joaquim
Chissano was re-elected party
president even though he was
not running for another term of
office as Head of State.
   
After the 2004 elections,
when Guebuza was elected
president of the country,
Chissano remained leader of
Frelimo for a few more months
before resigning to allow Frelimo
to combine the posts of
party leader and president of
the republic in the hands of the
same person.
   
Guebuza was sworn in as
President of Mozambique in
early 2005 and was elected to
lead Frelimo in 2006. He will
stand down as Head of State in
2015.
   
He is the SADC chairperson
for the coming year, following
the Summit held in Maputo in
August.


Abstract:
NAMIBIA’S RULING party
will hold its 5th elective congress
in November to elect a
new leadership and formulate
policies for the next five years.

body:
NAMIBIA’S RULING party
will hold its 5th elective congress
in November to elect a
new leadership and formulate
policies for the next five years.
President Hifikepunye Pohamba
is expected to seek a
second term as SWAPO leader
during the congress set for 29
November to 2 December. He
has led the party since 2007
when he succeeded SWAPO
founding president Sam Nujoma
during the 4th congress.
  
The South West Africa People’s
Organisation (SWAPO)
was formed in 1966 to liberate
the country from colonial rule,
achieved in 1990.
  
All eyes will be fixed on the
position of party vice-president
whose winner, according to a
succession policy adopted by
the SWAPO Central Committee,
would automatically be the
party candidate in the 2014
presidential elections.
  
According to the SWAPO
constitution, Pohamba can remain
party leader after completing
his two constitutional
terms as state President in
2014. He has been President of
Namibia since March 2005,
and will stand down in March
2015. He served as SADC
chairperson for one year during
his first term.
  
Members of the party are
expected to elect office bearers
for two other top positions –
the secretary-general and
deputy secretary-general.
  
The party constitution stipulates
that all positions will
become vacant prior to the
congress.
  
The Politburo will then
identify a maximum of three
candidates for each position,
who will be subject to scrutiny
and approval by the Central
Committee.
  
In the event that there are
more than three candidates for
any particular post, the Central
Committee will trim the
number down to three
through a secret vote.
  
A 35-member Congress
Preparatory Committee was
set up in April to oversee
preparations for the congress.
The committee is chaired by
Pohamba and includes other
senior officials such as party
vice-president Hage Geingob
and secretary-general Pendukeni
Iivula-Ithana.
  
Launching the Congress
Preparatory Committee at
SWAPO headquarters in
Windhoek, Pohamba urged
party leaders to recommit to
the principles of unity.
  
“We must use the important
platform of the upcoming
congress to critically review
our policy positions on issues
that are vital to the achievement
of our national development
agenda,” he said.
  
The party held a National
Policy Conference in September
during which 13 policy papers
were discussed on
matters relating to unemployment
and poverty, economic
growth, land and income distribution,
delivery of quality
healthcare and education,
youth development, and generational
transition.


Abstract:
PRESIDENT JACOB Zuma
will seek a second and final
term as leader of the African
National Congress of South
Africa when the party meets for
its 53rd national conference in
Mangaung in December.

body:
PRESIDENT JACOB Zuma
will seek a second and final
term as leader of the African
National Congress of South
Africa when the party meets for
its 53rd national conference in
Mangaung in December. 
The ANC national conference
is convened every five
years to elect a new leadership
and chart the course for the
party, which was formed 100
years ago in 1912 to oppose
colonial rule and later the
apartheid system when it was
introduced in 1948. Majority
rule was achieved in 1994.
   
The ANC’s nine provinces
are expected to field candidates
for the party’s top six positions
of president, deputy president,
national chairperson, secretarygeneral,
deputy secretary-general
and treasurer-general.
   
Nominations for these positions
open formally in October.
Zuma was elected leader of
Africa’s oldest political party
during the last ANC national
conference held in Polokwane
in December 2007.
   
The Mangaung conference
comes in the wake of the
ANC’s 4th National Policy
Conference held in August
where the party resolved to
open up discussion on current
challenges facing South Africa,
in particular unemployment,
poverty and inequality.
   
The policy conference
agreed to pursue the second
phase of the transition from
apartheid to a national democratic
society.


title:
Art as a Vector for regional integration

Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICA should
intensify efforts to promote its
cultural industry as the sector
has the potential to alleviate
poverty, create employment
and contribute to the socio-economic
development of the region.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICA should
intensify efforts to promote its
cultural industry as the sector
has the potential to alleviate
poverty, create employment
and contribute to the socio-economic
development of the region.
Renowned arts and culture
expert, Stephen Chifunyise said
this at a SADC Day Celebrations
Symposium held in
Harare, Zimbabwe.
   
He said a vibrant arts and
culture industry was critical in
enabling the region to tell its
own story as well as project its
own unique cultural identities
to the world.
   
“SADC can effectively
capitalize on its rich cultural
diversity by developing collaborative
programmes of marketing
products of its cultural
diversity,” Chifunyise, who is
the chairperson of the Children’s
Performing Arts Workshop
(Chipawo), a leading
Zimbabwean arts and culture
group, said.
   
He said the forthcoming
United Nations World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO) summit
set for Zambia and Zimbabwe
in 2013 provides a
perfect opportunity for SADC
to deepen cooperation and intensify
efforts to promote the
cultural industry.
   
To achieve this, he said there
is need to identify key stake-
holders in the creative and cultural
industries who will produce
unique cultural products
and market “our rich regional
cultural diversity to the many
tourism delegates that are expected
to attend the global
event.”
   
Such a coordinated approach
would ensure that the
region fully benefits from the
UNWTO summit, which is
being held in Africa only for the
third time after Egypt in 1995
and Senegal in 2005.
   
Chifunyise also noted that
countries in SADC have “many
arts and cultural festivals,
which, when put together, will
appropriately become the
SADC tourism route” encompassing
cultural sites such as
galleries, theme parks, and museums,
recreational and entertainment
parks.
   
“The production and presentation
of a SADC Tourism
Route to the forthcoming
UNWTO summit would be a
viable strategy in the promotion
of sustainable tourism in
SADC,” he said.
   
“The production of such a
tourism marketing tool calls for
collaboration between stakeholders
in the tourism sector
and stakeholders in the arts
and culture including ministries,
private and public institutions
responsible for the arts
and culture.”
   
On the establishment of the
Southern African Cultural In
formation System (SACIS), he
said “it is now possible to resuscitate”
the idea in view of
the rapid internet penetration
in the region. SACIS was set up
a few years ago, but due to various
challenges, the project
failed to sustain itself.
   
“There is no doubt that the
collapse of the SACIS project
was mainly due to the fact that
Member States of SADC were
at that time not ready to accommodate
the use of information
and communication technologies
in building and exchanging
data on the cultural sector,”
he said.
   
He said a SADC Cultural Information
System would be a
vital tool for providing data on
the performance of the creative
economy in the region to the
World Creative Economy Report
that is produced every two
years by the United Nations
Conference for Trade and
Development and the United
Nations Development Programme.
   
The SADC Day Celebrations
Symposium was organized by
SADC ambassadors accredited
to Zimbabwe in collaboration
with the Government of Zimbabwe,
the Southern African
Research and Documentation
Centre (SARDC), National Arts
Council of Zimbabwe, Arts Association
of Zimbabwe, National
Gallery of Zimbabwe
and Chipawo.
   
The event, chaired by the
Angolan ambassador to Zimbabwe,
HE Henrique Vaal
Neto, was aimed at celebrating
the formation of SADC – formerly
the Southern African
Development Coordination
Conference (SADCC), an organization
with the objective of
closer regional cohesion.
   
The theme for the celebrations
was “Art as a Vector for
Regional Integration in the
Southern African Development
Community”.


body:
The SADC Protocol on Culture, Information and
Sports calls for, among other things:


Cooperation in the formulation and harmonization
of cultural policies of Member States;

Promotion of an attitude that takes culture into
account in regional development programmes;

Development and promotion of institutions of
cultural heritage such as libraries, museums
and archives in support of the broad and specific
objectives of the Protocol;
  
Establishment of policy guidelines for the preservation
and promotion of the region’s cultural
heritage in all its various facets formulated in
close collaboration with relevant stakeholders;

Member States to make cultural industries a
major cornerstone of their national economies;

Member States to take measures necessary to
nurture, protect and promote their infant cultural
industries;
 
 
Member States to adopt measures designed
to promote eco-tourism as a means to support
the development of cultural industries;

Member States to organize arts and cultural
festivals to pursue the ideals of regional integration;
and


Member States to organize joint staging
during international


Abstract:
THE 2013 international
tourism summit set for Zambia
and Zimbabwe provides
yet another golden opportunity
for southern Africa to
showcase its numerous tourist
attractions as well as deepen
regional integration.

body:
THE 2013 international
tourism summit set for Zambia
and Zimbabwe provides
yet another golden opportunity
for southern Africa to
showcase its numerous tourist
attractions as well as deepen
regional integration.
However, there is need for
more coordination among
SADC Member States to ensure
that they fully benefit
from the opportunities presented
by the global event,
which is being held in Africa
for only the third time.
   
Joint preparation by Member
States is important, considering
that some countries
failed to adequately take advantage
of a similar global
event – the 2010 World Cup
tournament held in South
Africa two years ago.
  
Despite their proximity to
South Africa, a number of
SADC Member States could
not lure many of the thousands
of tourists that descended
on South Africa for
the month-long tournament.
  
In light of this, there is need
for the region to adequately
prepare for the forthcoming
United Nations World
Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) summit to be
jointly hosted by Zambia and
Zimbabwe in August 2013 so
that southern Africa benefits
from the opportunities presented
by this global event.
  
Zimbabwean Tourism Minister,
Walter Mzembi told a recent
SADC Day Celebrations
Symposium held in Harare that
as host countries, Zambia and
Zimbabwe had made significant
strides in making sure that
the event is a huge success.
  
He said latest inspections by
the UNWTO had indicated that
the two countries are ready to
host the event in 2013.
  
He called on all SADC
member states to “protect this
event,” saying that, similar to
the 2010 World Cup, the
tourism summit had the potential
boost tourist arrivals
and trigger massive socio-economic
gains for the region.
  
“SADC should take up the
challenge,” he said, adding that
Zambia, Zimbabwe and the
rest of the region have a choice
to either make this tourism
summit “just another ordinary
workshop or an international
tourism conference”.
  
“The choice is ours,” he
said, adding that SADC and
the rest of Africa would probably
not get another opportunity
to host such a huge event
in decades.
  
The region should, therefore,
take maximum advantage
of the upcoming
UNWTO summit to boost arrivals
and deepen integration.
More than 2,000 delegates
are expected to attend the 2013
UNWTO summit. These include
key decision-makers in
the travel industry as the summit
is expected to discuss and
give direction to global
tourism.
  
Tourists from across the
world are also expected to
visit the two countries to sample
the various attractions.
  
Speaking at the same seminar,
distinguished Zimbabwean
arts expert, Stephen
Chifunyise said SADC should
use its rich arts and culture as
well as its attractions to market
the UNWTO summit.
  
He said countries must develop
a viable platform where
“the many arts and culture
events in the region can become
the backbone of the
SADC tourism route.”
  
“The production and presentation
of a SADC Tourism
Route to the forthcoming
UNWTO summit would be a
viable strategy in the promotion
of tourism in the region,”
he said.
  
Chifunyise also called for
deeper cooperation between
the arts and culture industry
and the tourism sector.
  
Other participants said
Zambia, Zimbabwe and
SADC have the capacity to
host a successful tourism summit
as conditions for holding
such an event already exist.
The region boasts of a vibrant
infrastructure base that includes
hotels and roads, as
well as numerous attractions.
However, Mzembi said
there is need to improve on air
connectivity in the region.
  
“Our connectivity is so poor.
We need to improve this, first
as individual countries and
then as a region,” he said.


title:
"... a viable platform for marketing to the world..."

Abstract:
“IN 2010, the Soccer World
Cup finals hosted by South
Africa offered SADC an opportunity
to collectively market its
rich diversity. In August 2013,
Zambia and Zimbabwe will
host the United Nations World
Tourism Organization Summit.

body:
“IN 2010, the Soccer World
Cup finals hosted by South
Africa offered SADC an opportunity
to collectively market its
rich diversity. In August 2013,
Zambia and Zimbabwe will
host the United Nations World
Tourism Organization Summit.
“This will present another
great opportunity for SADC to
effectively capitalize on its rich
and huge creative and cultural
diversity by developing collectively
a viable platform for
marketing to the world
through this gathering of eminent
tourism professionals and
tourists a well selected and
properly packaged rich variety
of cultural goods illustrating
the rich diversity of cultural expressions
of the people of the
SADC,” said Stephen Chifunyise,
a prominent regional arts
expert.


title:
Angolan polls boost SADC profile as stable economy

Abstract:
THE RECENT Angolan elections
are expected to boost
economic prospects in southern
Africa and strengthen the
region’s profile as a stable investment
destination.

body:
THE RECENT Angolan elections
are expected to boost
economic prospects in southern
Africa and strengthen the
region’s profile as a stable investment
destination.
Angolans gave the Popular
Movement for the Liberation
of Angola (MPLA) another
mandate to continue with economic
and political reforms
that have so far ensured a
smooth transition from war to
stability in Africa’s second
largest oil producer.
  
Angola is the immediate
past chair of the Southern
African Development Community
(SADC) and has contributed
significantly to the
regional economy during the
past decade.
  
The country is one of the
largest economies in SADC
and has outperformed other
member states during the past
decade, registering doubledigit
growth since 2004.
  
Large investments in infrastructure
and the natural resources
sector such as oil and
diamonds have contributed to
the country’s impressive performance
in which the economy
has experienced
double-digit growth for the
past decade. Improved
terms of trade due to in-
creasing oil prices also contributed
to the positive performance.
  
Thanks to the good performance
by Angola – which
at one point grew as fast as 25
percent per annum – the regional
economy has averaged
five percent growth for most
of the past decade.
  
According to final results
released by the National Electoral
Commission (CNE), the
MPLA led by President José
Eduardo dos Santos, got 71.82
percent of the more than 5.6
million ballots cast in the 31
August parliamentary elections.
  
This was down from the 81
percent the governing party
got during the previous general
elections held in 2008.
  
The main opposition party,
the National Union for the
Total Independence of Angola
(UNITA), nearly doubled its
tally from 2008, coming second
with 18.7 percent of the
valid votes cast, up from 10
percent four years ago.
  
The Convergence Angola
Salvation Wide-Electoral
Coalition (CASA-EC), a coalition
of four small parties,
could only manage six percent
of the votes. CASA-EC was
one of four coalitions that contested
the elections.
  
Of the 220 total seats in the
National Assembly, 130 were
contested from closed lists by
proportional representation,
and the remaining 90 elected
in 18 constituencies that have
five seats each.
  
Voter turnout was about 60
percent, according to the national
electoral commission.
The MPLA victory assured
President dos Santos of another
term in office. The new
Angolan Constitution in 2010
abolished direct
election of the head
of state, with the
majority party in the
assembly gaining
the right to name the
president, who will
then select a vice-president.
  
These were the third elections
since Angola gained independence
from Portugal in
1975. The first post-independence
election was held in
1992, although it was never
completed because the civil
war re-ignited, while the second
polls were held in 2008,
six years after the end of the
conflict.
  
The Constitution limits the
presidential term in office to
two five-year terms although
this does not include the years
already served by dos Santos;
and abolishes the post of Prime
Minister, with the role assumed
by the vice-president.
  
The polls were described as
peaceful and orderly by observers
from SADC, the African
Union, Economic Community
of Central African States, International
Conference on the
Great Lakes Region, Electoral
Commissions Forum of SADC
and Community of Portuguese
Speaking Countries.
  
In a joint statement, heads
of the six observer missions
said the general elections were
conducted in accordance with
international and regional
principles and guidelines governing
democratic elections.
  
They congratulated the Angolan
people and politicians
for their maturity in allowing
the peaceful conduct of the
polls but called on the political
parties and candidates to
work together in order to consolidate
peace and democracy
in the country.
  
“The observer missions do
hereby congratulate the people
of Angola for exercising
their civic responsibility in a
peaceful and orderly manner,
and determination to hold the
general elections on the 31st of
August 2012 in ways that consolidate
peace, security and
stability, enhance reconciliation,
boost the democratic
process and strengthen the
foundation for further social
and economic development,”
the joint declaration read.
  
They, however, called for
timely accreditation of observers
and political party
agents in future polls as well
as facilitation of voting by Angolans
living in the diaspora.
 sardc.net


body:
October
1-5, South Africa 

24th African Hydro Symposium

The African Hydro Symposium is a forum where hydro
operating personnel representing electrical utilities and
independent power producers from Africa meet to
share ideas and deliberate on hydropower plant operation,
maintenance and management.

12-13, Ethiopia

 Second China-Africa Think Tanks Forum

The forum serves as a high-level platform for China-
Africa academic exchanges and civil dialogue. It promotes
a frank and unfettered dialogue on China-Africa
relations to boost mutual understanding between
China and Africa.
  
18, Zimbabwe

 33rd SAPP Executive Committee Meeting

The 33rd Southern African Power Pool executive meeting
will be attended by the 12 chief executive officers
and managing directors of SAPP member utilities. It
will chart the way forward towards the attainment of
the goal of integrating the regional power generation
and distribution networks.
  
November
30 October –2 November, South Africa

 13th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium

The symposium is a platform for water professionals to
 share advances in research and education related to
Integrated Water Resources Management. They will
discuss new opportunities and developments towards
the integrated management of the scarce fresh water
resources.
  
5-7, South Africa 

International Conference on Fresh Water Governance
for Sustainable Development

The conference will bring together policy makers,
water managers, scientists and civil society in a forum
where new ideas can be shared, nurtured and developed
from the water sector and beyond. It is hosted by
a number of local, regional and international partners.

  
5-9, Namibia 

10th RERA Anniversary Celebrations

The Anniversary to be held under the theme “Fostering
electricity regulation in Southern Africa”, will seek to
review RERA’s performance; Re-launch the Association
into the next decade; Foster closer relations among
members and key stakeholders; Improve the corporate
image and visibility; and Recognise organisations and
individuals who have made outstanding contributions
to RERA. Professional interactions will involve highlevel
discussions and presentations from experts and
stakeholders.
  
13-15, Mozambique

 Rural Electrification Forum 2012

 The Rural Electrification Forum 2012 will look at motivations
for rural electrification programmes, exchange
and analyze best practices, feasibility,
affordability and regulatory issues and discuss new approaches
and permanent solutions for sustainability in
developing countries.
  
26 November – 7December, Qatar 

COP 18 Summit on Climate Change

The 18th Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change will be
held concurrently with the Eighth Meeting of the Parties
to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 8). COP 18 will
assess progress in dealing with climate change issues.


Abstract:
OCTOBER MARKS the 20th anniversary
of the historic signing of
the Mozambican peace accord that
ended the country’s 15-year civil
war and ushered in a new era of
economic and social development.

body:
OCTOBER MARKS the 20th anniversary
of the historic signing of
the Mozambican peace accord that
ended the country’s 15-year civil
war and ushered in a new era of
economic and social development.
The General Peace Agreement
(GPA) between the Mozambican
government and rebels from the
Mozambican National Resistance
Movement (Renamo) was signed
on 4 October 1992 in Rome, Italy,
by former President Joachim
Chissano and Renamo leader
Afonso Dhlakama during a ceremony
also attended by the leaders
of Botswana and Zimbabwe.
  
Negotiations, which began in
July 1990, were brokered by a team
of mediators from the Catholic
Church and the Italian government.
  
The Mozambican government
delegation was led by Armando
Emilio Guebuza (now President of
Mozambique) while the Renamo
negotiators were headed by Raul
Domingos.
  
The Mozambican civil war had
its roots in the geopolitical situation
that existed in southern Africa
at the time.
  
The independence of Mozambique
and Angola in 1975 challenged
white minority rule in the
region. First, the independence
wars in Angola and Mozambique
demonstrated that even through
the use of great military resources
it was virtually impossible for a
small white minority to guarantee
the safety of its members, let alone
to exert control over the majority
black populations in these countries.
  
The downfall of Portuguese
rule in Angola and Mozambique,
therefore, gave hope to black resistance
in South Africa and the
then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
  
Second, in both countries revolutionary
socialistic movements
gained power. The Mozambique
Liberation Front (FRELIMO) and
the Popular Movement for the Liberation
of Angola (MPLA) had
been collaborating with the liberation
movements in South Africa
and Rhodesia, and now openly
supported them, as well as offering
a safe haven from where they
could coordinate operations and
train new forces.
  
This was especially devastating
for Rhodesia whose armed forces
lacked the personnel to effectively
protect its 1,287-km border with
Mozambique against liberation
fighters.
  
At the same time, the apartheid
government and the Smith regime
lost Portugal as an ally and, with
it, the thousands of soldiers that
had been deployed in the Portuguese
colonial wars.
  
The white minority position in
South Africa and Rhodesia had
been severely weakened by the
events of 1974/75 that led to the
overthrow of the Caetano regime
in Portugal.
  
As a result, undermining the capacity
of the newly independent
countries to support Zimbabwean
and South African liberation fighters
became the main strategy of
South Africa and Rhodesia to
counter this new threat. This led to
the Rhodesian-driven formation of
Renamo in 1976.


Abstract:
MWALIMU JULIUS Nyerere lit the flame that ignited the
liberation of southern Africa from colonial rule.

body:
MWALIMU JULIUS Nyerere lit the flame that ignited the
liberation of southern Africa from colonial rule.
"We, the people of Tanganyika, would like to light a
candle and put it on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro which
would shine beyond our borders giving hope where there
was despair, love where there was hate, and dignity where
there was before only humiliation."
  
In a famous speech that became known as “A Candle
on Kilimanjaro”, the United Republic of Tanzania’s founding
president made this commitment, even before Independence,
to ensure that Africa, most of which was still
under colonial rule, was liberated.
  
He died 40 years later on 14 October 1999. That day is
commemorated in Tanzania as Mwalimu Nyerere Day to
celebrate his life and achievements as father of the nation
(Baba wa Taifa). The day marks the climax of the Uhuru
Torch Race, after the freedom torch is carried around the
country by teams of runners


title:
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN SADC
October-December 2012

body:
4 October Peace and National Mozambique
Reconciliation Day

4 October Independence Day Lesotho

14 October Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Day Tanzania

15 October Mother’s Day Malawi

24 October Independence Day Zambia

1 November All Saints Day Seychelles,

Madagascar,

Mauritius

2 November Remembrance Day Angola

11 November National Independence Day Angola

12 November Public Holiday Angola

8 December Immaculate Conception Seychelles

9 December Independence Day Tanzania

10 December International Human Namibia
Rights Day

16 December Day of Reconciliation South Africa

17 December Public Holiday South Africa

22 December National Unity Day Zimbabwe

25 December Christmas All SADC

26 December Day of Goodwill South Africa

Family Day Namibia

Boxing Day Botswana,

Lesotho,

Swaziland,

Tanzania,

Zimbabwe


title:
Energy Sector Plan targets surplus, sets priorities

Abstract:
THE SADC region has suffered a shortage of
electricity since 2007 as demand exceeds supply,
and the expectation is that this energy gap
will be addressed by 2014. However, the implementation
of projects can lag behind their
planned dates due to a lack of funding and
other constraints.

body:
THE SADC region has suffered a shortage of
electricity since 2007 as demand exceeds supply,
and the expectation is that this energy gap
will be addressed by 2014. However, the implementation
of projects can lag behind their
planned dates due to a lack of funding and
other constraints.
SADC is now taking longer term measures
to address the energy deficit and ensure selfsufficiency
in energy generation and an end to
electricity shortages, through an ambitious Energy
Sector Plan that calls for the region to increase
power generation by more than 70
percent and invest at least US$170 billion over
the next 15 years.
 
The Energy Sector Plan is part of the SADC
Regional Infrastructure Development Master
Plan approved by the 32nd Summit of SADC
Heads of State and Government in Mozambique
in August.
 
The Energy Sector Plan addresses four key
strategic objectives:

ensuring energy security;

improving access to modern energy services;

tapping the abundant energy resources;
and,

achieving financial investment and environmental
sustainability.

 
The Plan identifies “hard” infrastructure
projects that include the planned increase in
electricity generation and transmission; refineries,
storage facilities and pipelines for petroleum
and gas; and transport facilities for coal
distribution and exports.
 
The plan for the energy sector has identified
73 power generation projects to increase generation
from the current 56,000 megawatts
(MW) and ensure that the projected demand of
96,000 MW is surpassed by 2027.
 
Prioritisation of the various projects was determined
using a formula under which projects
were rated according to their ability to impact
on the regional energy deficit.
 
Seven generation projects that scored above
50 percent and with capacity greater than
1,000MW each were ranked as top priority.
The seven projects alone are expected to
add about 26,000MW to the grid managed by
the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) – 65
percent of new generation capacity planned between
2013 and 2027 (see Table).
 
Highest priority is accorded to the
Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB) North
Bank hydropower project in Mozambique. The
project is expected to add 1,245MW to the regional
power grid when completed in 2015.
 
The other projects include
Mphanda Nkuwa in Mozambique,
the Batoka Hydro Power
Station jointly developed by
Zimbabwe and Zambia, and the
Inga 3 dam in the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC).
 
The Batoka project involves
the construction of a dam and a
hydropower plant on the Zambezi
River with a potential capacity
of between 1,600 and
2,000MW of electricity to be
shared equally between Zambia
and Zimbabwe.
 
The seven projects are expected
to cost a minimum of
US$65 billion and a maximum
of US$104 billion.
 
The next priority will be 18
other projects that scored above
50 percent according to the Master
Plan formula but have capacity
of less than 1,000MW.
 
These include the extension
of the Kariba South Power Station
in Zimbabwe that should
add 300MW of new power by
2016, the 800MW Kudu Gas
Power Station in Namibia to be
completed by 2016, and the
800MW Rumakali Hydro
Power Station in the United Republic
of Tanzania, due for completion
in 2018.
 
The 18 projects are expected
to increase southern Africa’s
power supply by 6,481MW by
the end of 2019 at a cost of between
US$7 billion and US$18
billion.
 
Three major interconnecting
projects would facilitate the connection
of Angola, Malawi and
Tanzania to the SAPP grid.
The three are the only SAPP
members yet to be linked to the
regional power grid. Other
SAPP member states are
Botswana, DRC, Lesotho,
Mozambique, Namibia, South
Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.
 
The island states of Madagascar,
Mauritius and Seychelles
are not members of
SAPP.
 
The SADC Executive
Secretary, Tomaz
Augusto Salomão,
says in a message accompanying
the Regional
Infrastructure
Master Plan that any
meaningful implementation
of the plan
should accord priority to addressing
power shortfalls in the
region through the development
and commissioning of
power generation and transmission
infrastructure.
 
“The interconnection of Angola,
Malawi and the United
Republic of Tanzania is necessary
to enable the migration of
these Member States to Operating
Members of the Southern
African Power Pool.”
 
The grand total of all these
projects to be implemented
from 2015 to 2027 is estimated
to cost in the region between
US$93 billion and US$212 billion.
 
In addition to the “hard” infrastructure
projects, the master
plan has also identified 16
“soft” infrastructure issues that
need to be addressed before the
region can achieve self-sufficiency
in the electricity sub-sec-
tor. These include harmonised
policies and increased cooperation
in energy development
and trading. Lack of alignment
in regulatory policy
frameworks and tariff structures
can hamper investment
and financing, and poor project
preparation can cause delays.
 
The master plan notes that
apart from the existence of energy
policies and, to some limited
extent, renewable energy
policy in all SADC Member
States, comprehensive renewable
energy strategies and action
plans exist only in
Mauritius and South Africa.
 
Botswana, Mauritius and
South Africa have put renewable
energy electrification targets
into their energy systems,
while only Namibia and South
Africa have renewable energy
regulatory frameworks.
 
Five countries have integrated
the deployment of renewable
energy in their rural
energy/electrification agencies.
These are Botswana,
Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia
and Zimbabwe.
 
A key challenge to regional
planning is to harmonise the
fragmented policies and targets
set by the Member States.


Abstract:
A PLAN of Action has been developed to guide the region towards
implementation of priority infrastructure projects as presented in
the Infrastructure Master Plan. Key elements include the following:

body:
A PLAN of Action has been developed to guide the region towards
implementation of priority infrastructure projects as presented in
the Infrastructure Master Plan. Key elements include the following:


Proposed funding mechanisms


The Plan of Action outlines some key modalities for financing infrastructure,
which include public financing through fiscal mechanisms
and sovereign loans, grants from development partners,
private sector funding and private-public partnership arrangements.

Institutional structures/monitoring and evaluation mechanisms


The following structures will continue to set the approval process
of the SADC infrastructure programme as per SADC protocols:


Sectoral project committees

Sub-sectoral committees

Committees of senior officials

Sectoral ministerial committees

Infrastructure ministers committee

Council of Ministers

Summit.


Abstract:
THE ISLAND states of Mauritius
and Seychelles are not
affected by improvements to
the SAPP regional grid as they
are not connected to it.

body:
THE ISLAND states of Mauritius
and Seychelles are not
affected by improvements to
the SAPP regional grid as they
are not connected to it.
They are already 100 percent
or almost 100 percent
connected to electricity and
have access to modern energy
sources such as liquefied petroleum
gas for cooking.
 
However, they can benefit
from harmonised policies and
regulatory frameworks to enable
trade of energy equipment
between the mainland
and the island states. Coordinated
financial resource mobilisation
would also be
beneficial.
 
They can participate in the
exchange of experiences for
renewable energy research
and development, the manufacturing
and trading of renewable
energy technologies,
clean coal technologies and
coal export arrangements.
They can also benefit from
harmonised tariffs and standardised
power purchase
agreements.


title:
"SAPP should have more authority to promote energy development"

Abstract:
THE SADC Secretariat has
called for Member States to review
the role and function of
the Southern African Power
Pool (SAPP) to ensure that the
regional body becomes more
effective in its efforts to promote
development in the energy
sector.

body:
THE SADC Secretariat has
called for Member States to review
the role and function of
the Southern African Power
Pool (SAPP) to ensure that the
regional body becomes more
effective in its efforts to promote
development in the energy
sector.
SAPP is a regional body
that coordinates the planning,
generation, transmission and
marketing of electricity on behalf
of member state utilities
in SADC.
 
The power utilities in
mainland SADC, with the exception
of Angola, Malawi
and the United Republic of
Tanzania, are interconnected
through SAPP, allowing them
to trade in electricity through
a competitive market.
 
Established in 1995
through an Intergovernmental
Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU), SAPP has, among
other things, managed to create
a market for electricity in
the region, allowing customers
to benefit from the advantages
associated with
energy cooperation.
 
The regional power pool
has also coordinated efforts to
exploit the numerous energy
resources that are in abundance
in the region.
 
For example, SAPP has
identified a number of priority
energy projects for commissioning
over the next few
years to address energy shortages
in the region.
 
Most of these projects target
renewable energy sources
such as solar, hydro and
wind – which are less polluting
to the environment than
other forms such as coal thermal.
 
Addressing the recent 33rd
SAPP executive committee
meeting held in Harare, Zimbabwe,
the SADC Senior Programme
Officer for Energy,
Freddie Motlhatlhedi said for
SAPP to fully carry out its duties,
member states need to review
the role and functions of
the regional power pool.
 
Presently, SAPP has limited
power to implement energy
projects, and
Motlhatlhedi says there is
need for the power pool to
have more authority in spearheading
efforts to ensure that
the region recovers from crippling
power shortages that became
more widespread in
2006/07.
 
“It is time we revise the Intergovernmental
Memorandum
of Understanding
(IGMOU) and other agreements
that created SAPP so
that the organization is empowered
and given more
powers to enforce decisions
made by member states,”
Motlhatlhedi said.
 
The IGMOU of 1995 was
last reviewed in 2006 by the
SADC Energy Ministers when
they signed the Revised Inter-
Governmental Memorandum
of Understanding.
 
The IGMOU is one of four
agreements that govern SAPP
operations. Others are the
Inter-Utility Memorandum of
Understanding that established
SAPP’s basic management
and operating
principles; the Agreement between
Operating Members
which established the specific
rules of operation and pricing;
and the Operating Guidelines,
which provide standards and
operating guidelines.
 
In this regard, SAPP operations
are mainly based on a
set of agreements among the
member utilities as opposed
to formal laws, which would
allow the regional body to
have greater authority over
energy issues in the region.
 
Motlhatlhedi said consultations
on the review of the
IGMOU should commence
ahead of the SADC Energy
Ministers meeting scheduled
for April 2013 in Lesotho.
 
He urged member states
to set up a committee that
will look at how best to restructure
and review SAPP so
that the recommendations
could be approved by the
SADC Energy Ministers next
year.
 
Addressing the same
meeting, Zimbabwe Energy
and Power Development Minister,
Elton Mangoma, urged
SAPP to ensure that all member
states are interconnected
on the regional grid.
 
“SAPP needs to connect its
three non-connected members,”
he said. “The continued
lack of interconnection of
these member states is depriving
the region and the citizens
in these countries the benefits
of interconnection that the rest
of the members currently
enjoy.”
 
P O L I C Y
More transmission lines
through the SAPP would also
enable member states to benefit
from new generation capacity
installed in other countries.
 
With Angola, Malawi and
Tanzania not interconnected
through SAPP, it means that
any new generation capacity
installed in any of the three
countries is not realized in the
nine other SAPP members.
 
The 33rd SAPP executive
committee was held on 18 October
and included the inauguration
of the new SAPP
Coordination Centre offices in
Mt Pleasant, Harare.
 
The centre acts as a focal
point for SAPP activities, particularly
through the technical
oversight of pool operations
and facilitating electricity
trading. sardc.net


Abstract:
SAPP WAS created with the
primary aim to provide reliable
and economical electricity
to consumers of each of
its member utilities, consistent
with reasonable utilization
of natural resources and
the effect on the environment.

body:
SAPP WAS created with the
primary aim to provide reliable
and economical electricity
to consumers of each of
its member utilities, consistent
with reasonable utilization
of natural resources and
the effect on the environment.
Co-operation in the electricity
sector is not a new
phenomenon in the region --
it has taken place at policy,
planning and operational
levels and involved governments,
power utilities and financial
agencies over a
period of several decades.
 
To formalize this interaction,
utilities in the region
came together under the auspices
of SADC to form the
Southern African Power Pool
in 1995.


Abstract:
SADC MEMBER States expect
to commission new energy
projects to add about
1,060 megawatts (MW) of electricity
to the regional grid in
2013.

body:
SADC MEMBER States expect
to commission new energy
projects to add about
1,060 megawatts (MW) of electricity
to the regional grid in
2013.
This figure is slightly below
the 1,770MW that was planned
for commissioning in 2012, although
the actual installed
electricity for this year is yet to
be made public.
 
New electricity generation
in 2013 is expected to come
from Lesotho, Malawi,
Namibia, South Africa and
Zambia.
 
South Africa plans to commission
projects that will add
a total of 720MW, while Zambia
will add 180MW.
 
Namibia and Malawi
will contribute 65MW
and 60MW respectively, while
Lesotho will add about 25MW.
These new electricity projects
will help the region to meet demand.
 
Southern Africa has been
facing power shortages as long
back as 2007, hence the Southern
African Power Pool (SAPP)
has identified a number of
projects for commissioning so
as to sustain the region’s
power supply.
 
Between 2012 and 2016,
southern Africa expects to
commission new
power projects
that will add a
total of about
14,300MW to the
regional grid.
Most of the
new power is set
to come from
South Africa,
which plans
to commission
8,382MW of
electricity projects
(see Table).


Abstract:
ZAMBIA AND Zimbabwe
have stepped up efforts to
construct the long-awaited Batoka
Gorge hydropower station.

body:
ZAMBIA AND Zimbabwe
have stepped up efforts to
construct the long-awaited Batoka
Gorge hydropower station.
Batoka Gorge is located
on the Zambezi River
about 50km downstream of
Victoria Falls and bordering
both countries. When operational,
the US$2.4 billion
plant will have the capacity
to produce up to 1,600
Megawatts (MW) of electricity.
 
According to the agreement,
Zambia and Zimbabwe
will share the power equally,
but since the two countries are
members of the Southern
African Power Pool (SAPP)
much of the electricity will be
fed into the regional power
grid.
 
All mainland SADC Member
States with the exception
of Angola, Malawi and Tanzania,
are interconnected
through SAPP.
 
The Zambezi River Authority,
a joint authority of
Zambia and Zimbabwe
which manages developments
the Zambezi River for
the two countries, approved
the project a few years ago.
 
Spokesperson Elizabeth
Karonga said the World Bank
has expressed interest in
funding the project and an
Environmental Impact Assessment
will soon be implemented
in advance of the
construction.
 
The Batoka hydro-station
is identified as one of the
most attractive projects in the
region, with great capacity to
help southern Africa to exploit
the huge hydro potential
of the Zambezi River.


title:
"Unity is key to continental development"

Abstract:
THE NEW Chairperson of the
African Union Commission, Dr
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has
said that Africa has the capacity
to achieve socio-economic
growth if member states work
together to address the challenges
affecting the continent.

body:
THE NEW Chairperson of the
African Union Commission, Dr
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has
said that Africa has the capacity
to achieve socio-economic
growth if member states work
together to address the challenges
affecting the continent.
Speaking at her inauguration
ceremony at African
Union (AU) headquarters in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 15
October, Dlamini-Zuma said,
“the only way to ensure success
in our continent’s endeavours
is to move together as one
united continent and people.”
“We should look at ourselves
as a continent, not only as individual
countries. …
 
“We are a formidable force
as a continent if we are united,
but if we are divided we are
weak. Nobody can ignore us
united. Nobody can fail to see
the continent as a force for
global change, if we look at
ourselves as a continent.”
 
She pledged to advance the
vision of the African Union of
“An integrated, prosperous
and peaceful Africa, driven by
its own citizens and representing
a dynamic force in the
global arena.”
 
Dlamini-Zuma, who is the
first southern African to head
the AU Commission, said that
Africa’s vast natural resources,
if fully exploited, could propel
the continent to development.
 
Africa accounts for more
than one quarter of the world’s
arable land, and is well endowed
with natural resources,
including about 30 percent of
the world’s known mineral reserves.
 
“If we invest in increasing
the productivity of our land
we can have food security, export
and generate revenue,
and also save the resources we
use to import food,” she said.
 
Dlamini-Zuma, who is also
the first woman to hold the
post of chairperson of the AU
Commission, said women empowerment
is critical to the
progress of the continent.
 
In this regard, she said
African countries must channel
more resources towards improving
access to health, sanitation
and water, and make
child-bearing safer for women.
 
Member states must also
implement regional and continental
agreements that ensure
more women are elevated into
decision-making positions, she
said.
 
The Commission she leads
contains 50-50 representation
of men and women by decision
of the AU Summit of
African Heads of State and
Government.
 
Dlamini-Zuma, who has
been a cabinet minister in
South Africa since 1994, noted
that this is the first time a
woman has been elected to the
top African position in 49
years since the formation of
the continental body, adding
that, “This election poses a
greater responsibility on
women in general.”
 
In her inaugural address,
she traced the rich history of
Africa in which women
played an important role in
economic and governance
structures, and more recently
in the struggle for liberation
from colonial rule and
apartheid.
 
With regard to youth empowerment,
Dlamini-Zuma
said there is need to harness
the energy, resourcefulness
and enthusiasm of the young
people so that they can contribute
positively to societies,
nations and the continent.
 
On peace and security, the
former South African Home
Affairs Minister said that,
while Africa has witnessed significant
progress in its political
landscape, there are some
countries that are still experiencing
instability for various
reasons.
 
She said peace and stability
are a prerequisite for socio-economic
development, hence the
need to redouble efforts to address
the conflicts.
 
“In spite of this laudable
progress, we must also acknowledge
that there have
been some difficulties and set-
backs, with pockets of instability
and conflict. …It is therefore
our responsibility as
governments, as citizens, as regional
bodies to ensure that
the democratic process is irrevocable
and to pledge ourselves
to work for its success.”
 
She said the AU Commission
will continue to work
with various stakeholders and
regional organizations to promote
and consolidate peace in
the continent, and that the
principle of finding African solutions
to African problems
will always be maintained.
 
Dlamini-Zuma said Regional
Economic Communities
(RECs) must continue to lead
the integration process as the
main agents for implementation.
 
Three RECs are at an advanced
stage of forming an integrated
market covering 27
countries in eastern and southern
Africa. These are the Common
Market for Eastern and
Southern Africa (COMESA),
East African Community
(EAC), and SADC.
 
This Tripartite Free Trade
Area is expected to increase
intra-regional trade and
deepen integration through
improved investment flows
and enhanced competition.
 
Dlamini-Zuma takes over
the AU Commission chair from
Gabon’s Jean Ping. Her ascendency
followed intense lobbying
by SADC Member States,
who argued that it was time for
southern Africa to lead the AU
Commission as other regions
have had the opportunity to occupy
the top post.
 
A skilled administrator and
diplomat with a pan-African
vision, Dlamini-Zuma was
widely respected in southern
Africa and in Africa during the
decade she served as South
Africa’s Minister of Foreign
Affairs. sardc.net


body:
Infrastructure
Development
Master Plan
will guide the
implementation
in six priority sectors

energy

transport

tourism

information
technology

meteorology

water.


SADC Regional
Development Fund.
 
New strategic plan
for regional peace
and security
covering five sectors
– political, defence,
state security, public
security, and police.
 
First Southern
African, first woman
to head African
Union Commission
 
First woman
President in SADC
Kavango Zambezi
Trans Frontier
Conservation Area
established, the
world’s largest


Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICA continued to record advances
towards regional integration and stability,
and gender equality, with the key indicators for
2012 being the launch of the long-awaited regional
infrastructure master plan and the strategic plan
on peace and security, among others.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICA continued to record advances
towards regional integration and stability,
and gender equality, with the key indicators for
2012 being the launch of the long-awaited regional
infrastructure master plan and the strategic plan
on peace and security, among others.
SADC took a major step forward in deepening
integration when Heads of State and Government
approved the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development
Master Plan at their Summit in Mozambique
in August. The Plan contains the vision for
infrastructure development in SADC between
2012 and 2027.
 
The Master Plan guides development in key infrastructure
such as road, rail and ports, and provides
a framework for coordination and
cooperation with development partners and private
sector. It will be implemented over three fiveyear
intervals – short term (2012-2017), medium
term (2017-2022) and long term (2022-2027).
 
This is in line with the SADC Vision 2027, a 15-
year implementation horizon for forecasting infrastructure
requirements in the region that is aligned
with the African Union’s Programme for Infrastructure
Development of Africa. The Plan constitutes
a key input to the proposed tripartite Free
Trade Area made up of SADC, the Common Market
for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA),
and the East African Community (EAC).
 
Another significant milestone for 2012 was the
approval to establish a Regional Development
Fund, a financial mechanism for mobilising resources
from Member States, the private sector and
development partners, for financing of SADC programmes
and projects.
 
The strategic plan for sustainable peace and security
in the region, the Strategic Indicative Plan
for the Organ (SIPO) on Politics, Defence and Security
Cooperation launched in November, covers
five sectors and provides the conditions for economic
and social development (see facing page).
 
On tourism development, the world’s largest
Trans Frontier Conservation Area (TFCA) became
a reality in March when the Kavango-Zambezi
(KAZA) TFCA was launched by five SADC member
states – Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia
and Zimbabwe.
 
Situated in the Okavango and Zambezi river
basins where the borders of the five countries converge,
the KAZA TFCA covers an area of some
444,000 square kilometres consisting of 36 national
parks, game reserves, community conservancies and
game management areas, and boasts numerous
other tourist attractions such as the Victoria Falls, as
well as the absorbing wildlife population in an area
now open to traditional migration routes.
 
Elections held in Angola and Lesotho further
strengthened southern Africa’s profile as a stable
investment destination and boosted economic
prospects.
 
In Lesotho, there was a transfer of power from
the former Prime Minister, Pakalitha Mosisili, who
despite winning the 26 May national poll by a
slight margin, got only 48 seats in the 120-seat National
Assembly, which was not enough to secure
an outright majority.
 
He resigned to allow the opposition to form a
coalition government led by the All-Basotho Convention
(ABC) of Thomas Thabane. Under
Lesotho law, the leader of the majority party in the
National Assembly automatically becomes prime
minister.
 
In parliamentary elections held in Angola in
August, the Popular Movement for the Liberation
of Angola (MPLA) led by President José Eduardo
dos Santos won another mandate for the next five
years. The leader of the party with a parliamentary
majority automatically becomes president.
 
Lesotho maintained its representation by
women in the lower house at 31, about 25 percent
of the total, and Angola with 76 women members
of parliament slipped slightly to 34.5 percent.
The regional target is gender parity – 50:50 by
2015.
 
SADC women have been taking their place in
leadership positions at home, on the continent and
worldwide in 2012.
 
The first woman President in the SADC region
is Her Excellency, Mrs. Joyce Banda, President of
Malawi, the former Vice President, who was
sworn into office in April 2012 following the death
of her predecessor.
 
The Vice President of Mauritius, Hon.
Monique Ohsan Bellepeau was acting President
from 31 March – 21 July 2012, following resignation
of the President, until a successor was chosen.
 
The new Chairperson of the African Union
Commission is the SADC candidate, Dr.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the former Minister of
Home Affairs of South Africa, who was sworn into
office on 15 October (see page 5). The Commission
she heads has 50-50 representation of men
and women by decision of the AU Summit of
African Heads of State and Government.
 
Asha Rose Migiro was released by the Tanzanian
government to serve as Deputy Secretary-General
of the United Nations 2007-2012. She stepped
down this year but not off the world stage, as she is
now the Special Envoy for HIV and AIDS in Africa.
 
A main challenge to regional development in
2012, in addition to the uncertain global financial
environment, was the conflict in eastern Democratic
Republic of Congo. Initiated by anti-government
rebels, the conflict generated a massive
humanitarian crisis, with serious implications for
regional integration and socio-economic development.
This was addressed by the SADC Summit
in August, and a Troika Summit in September, including
a mission to Rwanda by the SADC Chairperson
(see page 13).


title:
SADC launches new plan for regional peace and security

Abstract:
SADC HAS a new strategic plan for regional
peace and security covering five sectors – political,
defence, state security, public security and
police.

body:
SADC HAS a new strategic plan for regional
peace and security covering five sectors – political,
defence, state security, public security and
police.
The plan was launched on 20 November in
Arusha by the Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete,
the current Chairperson of the SADC
Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
 
He urged Member States to make resources
available for implementation of the Revised
Strategic Indicative Plan of the Organ (SIPO).
 
“Peace is an important aspect in regional
prosperity, hence there is a need for member
countries to chip in with enough resources to
make the bloc calm and stable,” Kikwete said.
“Efforts towards making our region calm are in
our hands. …
 
“It is time for member countries to start allocating
enough resources to address the
emerging challenges… We shouldn’t wait for
other people to act on our behalf.”
 
Kikwete also stressed that political will is
needed to move forward.
 
Speaking at the same occasion, the SADC
Executive Secretary, Dr Tomáz Augusto Salomão,
emphasised the need to preserve
“peace, security, stability and democracy, as a
prerequisite for regional integration and sustainable
development”, in order to address the
challenges posed by the new political, economic
and social context in the region.
 
Salomão traced the history of the Organ on
Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation established
by SADC Heads of State and Government
in 1996, and its achievements and
challenges, saying that it constitutes a “solid
platform for deepening the political cooperation
and cohesion in the region”.
 
The legal instruments already adopted for
implementation include various SADC protocols,
notably that on politics, defence and security
cooperation signed in 2001.
 
Other protocols are against corruption; for
combating illicit drugs; the control of firearms
and ammunition; facilitation of the movement
of persons; extradition; legal affairs, mutual assistance
in criminal matters; and a mutual defence
pact.
 
The first Strategic Indicative Plan for the
Organ (SIPO) identifying strategies and activities
was adopted in 2003 for implementation
over five years. Discussions on revision of the
plan began in 2007.
 
The Executive Secretary identified the key
achievements as the integration of the regional
police chiefs organization into the Inter-State
Defence and Security Committee; establishment
of the Regional Early Warning Centre for
conflict prevention and management; and the
SADC Standby Force.
 
Salomão also cited establishment of civilian
structures such as the SADC Electoral Advisory
Council, and the SADC Mediation, Conflict
Prevention and Preventive Diplomacy structures.
 
However, he added that, in addition to
these achievements, there are challenges resulting
from geopolitics and global dynamics, but
also from inadequate coordination mechanisms
and a shortage of human and financial resources
for appropriate implementation.
 
The SIPO is to be reviewed at five-year intervals
to ensure adequate response to the
changing geopolitical environment, and relevance
of objectives, strategies and activities in
various sectors, as well as to strengthen monitoring
mechanisms, human resources and
structures.
 
A main goal of the programme, Salomão
said, is to publicise and disseminate the revised
SIPO to all stakeholders, to facilitate development
of a comprehensive work plan to enable
“relevant stakeholders to be true partners in the
implementation”.
 
In launching the new policy document, the
Tanzanian President said it is intended to address
some of the new challenges facing the region,
Africa and the world, noting that SADC
plays a “leading role in the unity and cohesion
of the region and the continent, while significantly
contributing to peace, security, humanitarian
assistance and development activities at
regional and continental levels.”
 
Among the new challenges he cited are
piracy, climate change, human trafficking, illegal
immigration and economic recession.
 
Specific challenges, in addition to poverty,
are the deteriorating situation in the Great
Lakes Region, notably the worsening conflict in
eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He appealed again to the parties for a ceasefire,
“taking into account that innocent civilians are
the ones who are most highly affected.”
 
The launch was witnessed by senior defence,
police and correctional services officers from Tanzania,
and senior government officials and diplomats
from SADC member states, as well as
research and academic institutions attending a
symposium on the new strategic plan.
 
SADC has 15 member states including DRC,
but Madagascar is currently suspended following
a non-constitutional change of government
in 2009. sardc.net


title:
Towards renewable energy Challenges and opportunities for using new technologies

Abstract:
RENEWABLE ENERGY technologies are expected to ease southern
Africa’s power shortages as the region seeks solutions to a decadelong
problem that threatens to derail efforts to attain energy self-sufficiency
and regional development.

body:
RENEWABLE ENERGY technologies are expected to ease southern
Africa’s power shortages as the region seeks solutions to a decadelong
problem that threatens to derail efforts to attain energy self-sufficiency
and regional development.
Renewable energy is any energy that is naturally replenished, and
includes energy from natural resources such as hydro, methane, sunlight,
wind and geothermal heat. Energy produced from the refining
of biomass is also classified as renewable.
 
Coal, oil and natural gas are fossil fuels and are classified as nonrenewable
energy.
 
Unlike fossil fuels, the renewable energy sources are generally
less polluting to the environment, hence the need for southern Africa
to increase the uptake of this type of energy.
 
The most common renewable energy in SADC is hydropower,
which accounts for about 20 percent of SADC’s total energy generation,
while other renewables do not make any significant contribution
to the national or regional grids.
 
Non-renewable thermal power accounts for the largest proportion
of the SADC energy mix, with about 74 percent of all power
produced.
 
This is despite the fact that southern Africa is hugely endowed
with renewable energy resources.
 
In this regard, a rigorous programme to promote the widespread
use of renewable energy products and technologies could help the
SADC region reduce the burden of power shortages as well as the
overreliance on non-renewable fossil fuels.
 
Renewable products and technologies

The use of renewable energy products and technologies is gradually
increasing in southern Africa. The most common renewable energy
products in SADC use hydropower.
 
However, the full potential of hydro
as a source of renewable energy is yet to
be exploited, and a number of dams are
lying idle instead of producing electricity
for small towns or remote areas.
 
The Zambezi River, for example,
drains water from eight SADC Member
States and has an estimated hydropower
generation capacity of about
20,000 megawatts (MW), which is almost
enough to meet the region’s energy
needs if potential sites are
exploited.
 
Only 23 percent of this potential is
being harnessed, largely from two
main sites at the Kariba Dam between
Zambia and Zimbabwe, and the Cahora
Bassa Dam in Mozambique.
 
Hydropower is also in abundance
with the Inga project on the Congo
River in the Democratic Republic of
Congo having the potential to produce
about 40,000 MW of electricity.
 
Outside the national and regional
grid, solar technology is commonly
used, providing electricity to families
and communities. Solar technologies use panels that attract energy
from the sun to generate electricity through the photovoltaic process.
 
Other products include solar lamps, solar water heaters, solar
streetlights, solar phone chargers, solar radios, and solar torches that
have many practical uses in both rural and urban areas as they are
rechargeable.
 
There are also solar-powered generators that provide hours of
solar energy to keep households powered during electricity outages.
However, with the exception of hydropower, there are no sustainable
incentives or subsidy schemes to encourage largescale, gridconnected
electricity based on renewable energy systems.
 
According to the African Development Bank
(AfDB), Africa could become a “goldmine” for renewable
energy due to the abundant hydro, solar and wind
resources that are now hugely sought after by international
investors in their quest for a new clean-energy
frontier.
 
Most African countries receive more than 2,500
hours of sunshine per year, and most of the continent
has sunshine all year round.
 
An assessment by the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility
also reveals that there is 4,000 MW of geothermal
electricity ready for harvesting along the Rift Valley.
 
Challenges

With all their advantages, most renewable products
and technologies are not cheap to install. For example,
a typical home solar system in the region costs anywhere
between US$500 and US$1,000, according to the
AfDB.
 
A micro hydro system that converts the flow of
water into electrical energy, or a wind turbine, is also
expensive to install and maintain. As a result, most
countries in SADC tend to focus more on fossil fuels
because thermal stations are easier and cheaper to construct
compared to hydro and wind plants.
 
There are other significant barriers
that limit the development of renewable
energy unless special policy
measures are enacted to encourage
development.
 
These hurdles can be
grouped into several categories
– commercialization
barriers, price distortions, and
market barriers such as inadequate
information, lack of access
to finance, and high
transaction costs for making
small purchases.
 
In order to compete against
fossil fuel and nuclear technologies,
renewable energy solutions must
overcome two major barriers to commercialization
– undeveloped infrastructure and
lack of economies of scale.
 
Developing new renewable resources will require large initial investments
to build infrastructure. These investments increase the
cost of providing electricity, especially during early years.
 
In some cases developers must find publicly acceptable sites
with good resources and with access to transmission lines. Potential
wind sites can require several years of monitoring to determine
whether they are suitable.
 
There are also costs related to marketing activities that should accompany
promotion of renewable energy products. Start-up companies
must communicate the benefits of renewables to customers
in order to persuade them to switch from traditional sources.
 
Public education will be a critical part of a fully functioning market
if renewables are to succeed.
 
Opportunities

SADC Member States are slowly turning to renewable energy to
boost production and meet the ever-growing demand for electricity
in the region, and knowledge about renewable energy products and
technology is extensive throughout the SADC region, although its
use is still limited.
 
The countries that are leading efforts to harness renewable energy
include Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and the
United Republic of Tanzania. These countries have stepped up efforts
to harness the huge renewable potential that lies untapped in
the region.
 
For example, Mozambique is aiming to boost production at the
Mphanda Nkuwa hydropower plant. The Mphanda Nkuwa power
plant has the capacity to add about 1500 MW of new electricity on
the regional power grid.
 
The DRC has also stepped up efforts to exploit the Inga Dam potential
to generate income and facilitate energy efficiency.
With regard to solar energy, Botswana plans to build a 200 MW
solar plant that has capacity to provide a significant portion of the
country’s energy needs as its national power consumption is about
450 MW.
 
South Africa has approved largescale wind power projects, with
total capacity to generate 562 MW as part of its Renewable Energy
Independent Power Producers Programme.
 
South Africa also plans to commission at least 400
MW of wind power by independent producers within
the next few years. Most of the plants will be located
along the West Coast that has the potential to generate
about 10,000 MW of electricity.
 
With respect to geothermal energy, Tanzania
plans to use smallscale geothermal plants for rural
electricity mini-grid systems. In Mozambique, at
least 38 thermal springs have been identified,
mostly within the Rift Valley just north of Metangula.
 
In Malawi, 21 major hot springs are reported in
the Chitipa-Karonga area down to Chipudze in the
southern region.
 
Conclusion

Development of the renewable energy industry has been
made difficult by the lack of financial resources and poor infrastructure
to tap the resource.
 
Madagascar provides a practical example of how southern
African countries can benefit from the utilization of the abundant
renewable energy resources.
 
To address some of these pertinent challenges, southern Africa
can do it the Madagascan way so people can benefit from solar
and wind resources. The island nation, which is the fourth largest
island in the world, embarked some years ago on a smallscale exercise
to harness its solar potential and provide power to the rural
population, who are not connected to the national electricity grid.
 
Rural clinics and hospitals were equipped with solar technologies
such as small solar panels to produce their own electricity
and in the process enabling them to cool vital vaccines and other
medicines.
 
Given the cost involved, experts are urging Africa to start with
smaller solar projects that are cheaper to ensure that power is
available to the majority of its people while bigger projects can be
done in partnership with willing investors.


title:
Africa adopts Arusha Declaration on sustainable development

Abstract:
ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS
from more than 40
African countries have adopted
a blueprint that outlines the
continent’s agenda following
the United Nations Conference
on Sustainable Development
held in Brazil in June.

body:
ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS
from more than 40
African countries have adopted
a blueprint that outlines the
continent’s agenda following
the United Nations Conference
on Sustainable Development
held in Brazil in June.
The Arusha Declaration on
Africa’s Post Rio+20 Strategy
for Sustainable Development
was adopted at the end of the
14th session of the African
Ministerial Conference on the
Environment (AMCEN).
 
The declaration outlines a
number of commitments, actions
and programmes to be
undertaken to tackle environmental
challenges facing
Africa such as land degradation,
climate change, deforestation,
low agriculture
productivity and poverty.
 
Flagship programmes to be
initiated under the Arusha
Declaration include introduction
of the:


Ecosystem-Based Adaptation
Programme for Africa;

African Programme on
Sustainable Energy Development;

Integrated Waste Management
Programme for
Africa;

Africa Integrated Environmental
Assessment for Sustainable
Development
Planning;

African Programme on
Biodiversity and Ecosystems;

African Partnership for Capacity
Building, Technology
Transfer and Skills
Development; and,

A sustainable land management
and desertification
programme in Africa.


Decisions made include endorsing
the African common
position for the upcoming
18th session of the Conference
of Parties (COP 18) to the UN
Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC)
set for December in Doha,
Qatar.
 
Africa is expected to spearhead
the adaptation agenda at
this conference.
 
The plan to initiate an
African green economy partnership
was another outcome
of the AMCEN meeting. This
would facilitate coordinated
support for member states to
implement the global partnership
for action on green economy
as a vehicle for poverty
eradication, job creation and
sustainable development.
 
Vice President of the
United Republic of Tanzania,
Mohamed Gharib Bilal, called
for renewed commitment to
tackling challenges which
threaten the future of African
people and urged the ministers
to build a green economy
that aims at reducing poverty.
 
The ministers agreed to review
the African 10-Year
Framework on Sustainable
Consumption and Production
which was approved in 2005.
The framework supports regional
and national initiatives,
contributing to resource effi-
ciency while creating new job
opportunities and contributing
to poverty eradication.
 
It covers consumer information
aimed at promoting
environmental management
tools such as life cycle assessments,
eco-labelling, and environmental
audits.
 
Another outcome was the
need to use the UNEP Africa
Environment Outlook to review
the state of African environment
for decision-making at
national and regional levels.
 
This promotes the production
of regional state of the environment
reports such as the
Southern Africa Environment
Outlook launched in 2009.
 
In view of strengthening
and upgrading UNEP, which
was one of the key outcomes
of Rio+20, the ministers urged
the General Assembly to progressively
consolidate UNEP
headquarters functions in
Nairobi, as well as to
strengthen its regional presence,
in order to assist countries,
upon request, in the
implementation of their national
environmental policies.
 
The delegates also requested
upgrading of UNEP
regional offices, including establishment
of five sub-regional
offices in Africa to be
able to respond more effectively
to environmental priorities
at national and
sub-national levels and to assist
in building capacities to
address emerging issues and
new development challenges.
 
AMCEN’s 14th ordinary
session was held in Arusha,
Tanzania, in September 2012
and was the first major conference
to discuss key issues on
the environment and sustainable
development after the
UN Conference on Sustainable
Development, known as
Rio+20, held in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil in June.


title:
Highlights of Africa's Post Rio Strategy

body:
An agreement to strengthen
and consolidate commitment
to the promotion
of sustainable development
and effectively integrate the
economic, environmental
and social dimensions in
local, national and regional
development policies and
strategies.


A reaffirmation of the need
to speak for the continent
in one voice and ensure the
adequate representation of
Africa in all committees established
for the follow-up
of the outcomes of the
Rio+20 conference.


The initiation of an African
green economy partnership
that facilitates coordi-
nated support to member
states and serves to implement
the global partnership
for action on green
economy as a vehicle for
poverty eradication, decent
jobs creation and sustainable
development.


A request to Member States
to use the African Environment
Outlook as a tool for reviewing
the state of the
African environment to
support decision-making at
national and regional levels;


A review of the African 10-
Year Framework Programme
on Sustainable
Consumption and Production
to hasten the implementation
of programmes;


Strengthening and upgrading
of the United Nations
Environment Programme
(UNEP) to ensure secure,
stable, adequate and increased
financial resources
from the regular UN budget
(to a level of two percent of
the overall budget), to be
supplemented by voluntary
contributions; and,


Upgrading of the UNEP regional
office and establishment
of five sub-regional
offices in Africa, as well as
creation of a universal membership
body known as the
Environment Assembly,
with a ministerial segment
called the Ministerial Conference
on Environment.


title:
SADC embraces Africa's common position for COP18

body:
SADC ENVIRONMENT
ministers have agreed to support
Africa’s common position
for the 2012 climate change negotiations.
The ministers, who met
during the Africa Ministerial
Conference on Environment
(AMCEN) in September in the
United Republic of Tanzania,
noted that the African position
for the 18th session of Conference
of Parties (COP18) to the
United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) is in line
with the SADC position.
 
The position includes the
need for COP18 to come up
with an agreement for a second
commitment period of the
Kyoto Protocol.
 
The ministers expressed
concern that there was no clarity
after COP17 held in Durban,
South Africa as to whether the
extension period of the Protocol
would be five or eight years.
 
SADC as well as the rest of
Africa prefers a commitment
period that avoids a gap in the
legally binding emissions reduction
provided for under
the Protocol.
 
Africa’s position is to urge
developed countries to commit
themselves to far more extensive
emission reductions
than in the first Kyoto period
ending this year. This would
ensure global warming stays
below 1.5°C.
 
Africa also wants an outcome
that commits developed
countries to honour their
pledges under the Green Climate
Fund.
 
This would ensure the provision
of adequate and predictable
funding for adaptation
and nationally appropriate mitigation
actions in developing
countries.
 
SADC and the rest of Africa
expects COP18 to come up
with a mechanism to ensure
fair, transparent and unbiased
criteria for access to resources
relating to the Green Climate
Fund, the Climate Technology
Centre and capacity-building
efforts.
 
Concerns have been raised
over the slow disbursement of
financial resources pledged by
the high-polluting industrialized
countries as start-up financing
for the period 2010 -
2012.
 
Africa is also concerned
that there is no agreed level of
financing for the period 2013 -
2020.
 
The environment ministers
noted the need to ensure a fair
and equitable representation
of the region in all the institutions
created under the UNFCCC
such as the Climate
Technology Centre, the Green
Climate Fund board, and the
Adaptation Committee, as
agreed during COP16 held in
Cancun, Mexico in 2010.
 
One SADC Member State,
Namibia, put in a strong bid to
host the secretariat of the
Green Climate Fund but lost
to South Korea.
 
Africa will emphasise the
need for urgency in action on
agreed outcomes since the
window of opportunity to
avoid dangerous climate
change impacts is closing.
 
Scientists are forecasting
that a maximum of five years
is remaining to avoid irreversible
climate change.
 
Africa, therefore, notes the
growing risk of catastrophic
impacts, particularly to the
continent.
 
SADC and the rest of the
continent call upon developed
countries to urgently increase
support for the implementation
of adaptation measures
and plans, and to support and
expedite work to understand,
reduce and compensate for
losses and damage associated
with adverse effects of climate
change, including impacts on
agriculture.
 
They urged parties to the
UNFCCC to rapidly increase
technology development
transfer to Africa in support of
adaptation in all relevant sectors,
including agriculture,
water, health, forestry, energy,
transport, industry and waste
management sectors.
 
The SADC meeting in
Arusha was in response to the
decision of the SADC Council
of Ministers held in August,
which requested the region to
develop a common position
ahead of COP18.
 
COP18 takes place from 26
November to 7 December 2012
in Doha, Qatar.


Abstract:
A ZIMBABWEAN official,
Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe,
has been elected as the
first chair of the newly formed
Adaptation Committee of the
United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC).

body:
A ZIMBABWEAN official,
Margaret Mukahanana-Sangarwe,
has been elected as the
first chair of the newly formed
Adaptation Committee of the
United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC).
As part of the Cancun
Adaptation Framework,
adopted during the 16th Conference
of the Parties (COP16)
held in Mexico in 2010, parties
to the UNFCCC established an
Adaptation Committee to promote
the implementation of action
on adaptation in a coherent
manner under the convention.
 
The committee’s functions
include provision of technical
support and guidance to
UNFCCC parties; sharing of
information, knowledge, experiences
and good practices;
and promoting synergies and
strengthening engagement
with national, regional and international
organizations, centres
and networks.
 
The committee also aims to
provide information and recommendations
for consideration
by the COP when providing
guidance on incentives for
the implementation of adaptation
actions, including finance,
technology and capacity building.
 
The first Adaptation Committee
meeting was held in
Bangkok in September, where
Mukahanana-Sangarwe was
elected.
 
The new committee will set
out the guidelines for countries
to develop and implement
their National
Adaptation Plans (NAPs).
 
In addition, it will also promote
technical and financial
assistance for countries in implementing
NAPs, although
how much funding will be
available to assist developing
countries is still not clear.


title:
Natural resources can propel southern Africa's growth

Abstract:
SADC's VAST and largely untapped
hydrocarbon resources
are attracting a more prominent
profile among the world’s
biggest oil producers.

body:
SADC's VAST and largely untapped
hydrocarbon resources
are attracting a more prominent
profile among the world’s
biggest oil producers.
Namibia is regarded as the
next big player in Africa’s oil
industry, expected to join continental
petroleum powerhouses
Angola and Nigeria. Angola is
the second largest oil producer
in Africa and the eighth largest
in the world.
 
With an estimated 11 billion
barrels of oil reserves, Namibia
has marginally less than its
northern neighbour Angola.
Mines and Energy Minister
Isak Katali says Namibia could
become a consequential oil producer
by as early as 2015.
 
Recent discoveries by oil and
gas firms from Italy and the
United States have also sparked
tremendous interest from international
gas and oil companies
to start exploring offshore
Mozambique.
 
SADC and other regions of
Africa have vast natural resources
that include timber,
fishery, land, water and minerals
such as diamonds, gold
and platinum, lithium, titanium
and chrome, among
many others.
 
Despite all the abundance
of natural resources on the
continent, some parts of Africa
continue to be among the
poorest in the world.
 
Thus, there is need for the
continent to develop viable
strategies to ensure that the extraction
of resources is beneficial
to Africa, with significant
value-addition on the continent
and increase local shareholding
and ownership of
mining companies.
 
“When we extract the minerals,
we are extracting our capital.
Therefore, we need to use
them wisely,” Claude Kabemba,
Director of the Southern
Africa Resources Watch
(SARW), told SADC journalists
in Windhoek, Namibia.
 
He said natural resources
are a valuable asset for sustain-
ing growth, reducing poverty
and achieving the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs),
hence the continent must properly
manage its resources and
seek value-addition.
 
“Africa needs to invest heavily
in data collection and knowledge
management about its
natural resources,” Kabemba
said, adding that most of the
available data is from investors.
He urged African governments
to consider re-negotiating
some of the mineral extraction
deals signed many decades ago
as most of them do not benefit
the continent.
 
Kabemba acknowledged that
this poses its own technical and
legal challenges, but concluded
that it remains an important intervention
if Africa is to take
full advantage of its resources.
 
For example, the DRC has
renegotiated some of its mining
deals in recent years, and has
published natural resource contracts
in a move meant to improve
transparency.
 
To fully benefit from its natural
resources, Africa should
also review its minerals laws
and royalty regime systems,
Kabemba said. “It’s important
that Africa sets good tax clauses
in the contracts.”


title:
South Africa establishes mining research institute

Abstract:
SOUTH AFRICA has established
the country's first institute
dedicated exclusively to the
mining industry in a move
aimed at halting the decline in
human capital within its mining
sector and to deepen mining research.

body:
SOUTH AFRICA has established
the country's first institute
dedicated exclusively to the
mining industry in a move
aimed at halting the decline in
human capital within its mining
sector and to deepen mining research.
The Wits Mining Research
Institute (WMRI), launched in
September at the University of
Witwatersrand in Johannesburg,
will seek to advance min
ing research as an important
component of economic
growth.
 
The institute also hopes to
increase the number of students
choosing to study mining, by
organising high-level skills
training in key areas, including
the investigation of new methods
for mining and exploration;
mining policy; health and
safety; environmental impacts;
and community issues.
 
WMRI acting director, Nielen
van der Merwe, said the
South African mining sector
was being affected by lack of
human capacity and research,
coupled with inadequate training
for the next generation of
researchers.
 
“The institute will stimulate
collaboration between disciplines,
from law and management
to migration, economics
and healthcare,” he said.


title:
EU to support regional integration and development

Abstract:
SADC AND the European Union have signed agreements
worth 36 million Euros to support regional integration and development.
The agreement covers the strengthening of institutional capacity
for the SADC Secretariat and Member States, including
civil society.

body:
SADC AND the European Union have signed agreements
worth 36 million Euros to support regional integration and development.
The agreement covers the strengthening of institutional capacity
for the SADC Secretariat and Member States, including
civil society.
The component in support of regional political cooperation
amounts to 18 million Euros to strengthen the capacity of
SADC to perform its mandate in the area of politics, governance,
peace and security.
 
The programme for institutional capacity development provides
12 million Euros to strengthen capacity of the SADC Secretariat
to promote equitable economic growth and sustainable
socio-economic development in SADC’s 15 Member States.
 
The third component is a technical cooperation facility of
six million Euros to contribute to improving the coordination,
harmonisation and development of national-
regional linkages.
 
The agreements signed by the SADC Executive
Secretary, Dr Tomáz Augusto Salomão, and Ambassador
Gerard McGovern, the Head of the European Union
Delegation to Botswana and SADC, mark an important milestone
in the bilateral relations between SADC and the EU.
 
Noting that “one of the three agreements is the first contribution
agreement between SADC and the EU,” Salomão said the
move “towards the contribution agreement modality shows a
deeper commitment of the European Union to reinforce SADC’s
ownership, systems capacity development and aid effectiveness.”
 
“The EU has learned many lessons in its integration experience,”
Ambassador McGovern said, “and is happy to share
these experiences with countries on the African continent and
beyond.” sadc.int.


title:
Conflict in eastern DRC a setback to regional integration, development

Abstract:
THE CONFLICT in eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo
is a setback to regional integration
and socio-economic development,
and SADC strongly
condemned the deteriorating
security situation, including the
invasion and capture of Goma
on 20 November by anti-government
rebels.

body:
THE CONFLICT in eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo
is a setback to regional integration
and socio-economic development,
and SADC strongly
condemned the deteriorating
security situation, including the
invasion and capture of Goma
on 20 November by anti-government
rebels.
SADC demanded the immediate
withdrawal of the
rebels from Goma and the cessation
of hostilities, and called
for peaceful and durable resolution
of the conflict, saying it
can be resolved through collective
dialogue.
 
“SADC in collaboration
with the International Conference
for the Great Lakes Region
will continue to make all efforts
to find the way forward in urgently
addressing this matter.”
 
The SADC Organ Troika
met in September in Dar es
Salaam, following the visit to
Rwanda by the SADC Chairperson,
President Armando
Guebuza of Mozambique, who
had been mandated by the
SADC Summit in August to engage
the government of
Rwanda, and did so immediately.
 
The Troika welcomed his
swift action and his report,
and endorsed his recommendations.
 
The Organ Troika Summit
was attended by the Presidents
of Tanzania, Mozambique
and Namibia, as well as
DRC, the defence minister of
South Africa, and SADC Executive
Secretary.
 
They reaffirmed commitment
to the decisions of the full
SADC Summit in August, and
requested the Executive Secretary
to work with his counterpart
at the International
Conference for the Great Lakes
Region (ICGLR).
 
At their Summit in Maputo
in August, SADC leaders noted
with “great concern” the deterioration
in the security situation
in the eastern DRC during
the previous three months,
causing displacement of people
and loss of lives and property.
 
Summit noted that “this is
being perpetrated by rebel
groups with assistance of
Rwanda” and urged Rwanda
to cease immediately its interference
“that constitutes a
threat to peace and stability, not
only of the DRC, but also of the
SADC region.”
 
They agreed that this situation
called for renewed and urgent
attention by Summit
which had fielded an assessment
mission to DRC, a member
state, and they mandated
the SADC Chairperson to engage
the Government of
Rwanda with the aim of urging
Rwanda to stop military support
to the armed rebels in the
DRC.
 
Summit urged member
states and the international
community to provide humanitarian
relief to the displaced
people in the eastern DRC, and
directed the SADC Secretariat
to collaborate with the ICGLR
Secretariat in pursuit of peace
and security.
 
Leaders in the Great Lakes
Region also directed the rebels
to withdraw from Goma and
stop all war activities, and resolved
that a composite force
comprising one neutral force,
DRC military and national police
should be deployed to
Goma.
 
Among those present at the
ICGLR summit was President
Jakaya Kikwete of the United
Republic of Tanzania, who current
chairs the SADC Troika on
Politics, Defence and Security
Cooperation.
 
SADC member states who
are part of the ICGLR are Angola,
DRC, Malawi, Tanzania
and Zambia. Other members
are Burundi, Republic of
Congo, Central African Republic,
Kenya, Sudan and
Uganda.
 
The summit expressed
gratitude to South Africa
which offered to provide logistical
support to the Neutral
International Force that would
help to keep peace in eastern
DRC, and Tanzania which offered
to provide a Force Commander
for the Neutral
International Force. Other
contributors to the force were
not announced at that time.
 
The rebels launched a rebellion
against DRC President
Joseph Kabila’s government in
April 2012, and recently
threatened to march on Kinshasa,
the faraway capital of
the vast, mineral-rich country.
 
They call themselves the
March 23 (M23) movement as
that is the date on which they
had agreed to lay down arms
and be integrated into the national
army, before deserting
and claiming their conditions
had not been met.
 
President Paul Kagame
has denied accusations by the
DRC, SADC and other
African leaders, and a UN
panel of experts, that
Rwanda is providing military
support to the rebels. Uganda
has also denied supporting
the rebels.
 
The UN Security Council
demanded the withdrawal of
M23 rebels from Goma, and
condemned their human
rights abuses, including summary
executions, genderbased
violence, and largescale
recruitment of child soldiers.
UN Resolution 2076 imposed
targeted sanctions on mem-
bers of the leadership, but no
arms embargo.
 
In one of the strongest signals
to Rwanda, however,
their major donor, the United
Kingdom, announced it was
withholding almost US$34
million in aid, following a
confusion in which aid was
suspended in July and reinstated
in September.
 
The international development
secretary said the government
had “already set out
its concerns over credible and
compelling reports of Rwandan
involvement with M23 in
DRC.”
 
Kabila has dismissed negotiations
with M23, saying the
DRC would only talk to
Rwanda.
 
Kabila and his Rwandan
and Ugandan counterparts,
Presidents Kagame and Museveni,
met in Uganda for
talks the day after the capture
of Goma, the provincial capital
of North Kivu province
close to the Rwandan border.
 
Their joint statement on 21
November said that, “in solidarity
with the Congolese
people and their counterpart”,
Museveni and Kagame had
condemned both the expansion
of the war and “the idea
of overthrowing the legitimate
government of DRC or undermining
its authority.”
 
They said they would communicate
with the rebels to
stop their offensive and pull
out of Goma. Kabila made a
commitment that DRC would
look into “the causes of discontent
and address them as
best it can.”
 
The three leaders agreed
that “a comprehensive and
operational plan geared towards
lasting peace and stability
will be drawn up as a
matter of urgency.”


Abstract:
FOUR SOUTHERN African
countries will raise the regional
profile at the 2013
Africa Cup of Nations
(AFCON) finals to be hosted
by South Africa.

body:
FOUR SOUTHERN African
countries will raise the regional
profile at the 2013
Africa Cup of Nations
(AFCON) finals to be hosted
by South Africa.
This is the first AFCON to
be held on an odd year. Africa
made this change to ensure
that the tournament does not
clash with the world cup.
 
The world cup is held after
every four years, and on occasions
that the global soccer
event was hosted in the same
year as the AFCON, most
African teams did not perform
at their best, with many attributing
this to fatigue.
 
The world cup is usually
held in June-July while the
AFCON is held in January-February.
 
Angola, the Democratic Republic
of Congo, South Africa
and defending champions
Zambia are the four SADC
representations.
 
Angola, DRC and Zambia
booked their places at next
year’s finals as winners of
two-legged clashes against
Zimbabwe, Equatorial Guinea
and Uganda respectively.
South Africa is participating as
the host nation.
 
With the defending champions
Zambia and the host
South Africa from this region,
expectations are high that one
of the SADC representatives
might win the trophy or at
least reach the finals.
 
Zambia has been placed in
the same group as Burkina
Faso, Ethiopia and Nigeria.
South Africa is in a group
with Angola, Cape Verde
and Morocco, while DRC
is grouped with Ghana,
Niger and Mali.
 
Speaking soon after the
group draw was made in Durban,
South Africa in October,
southern African representatives
expressed satisfaction
with the draw and pledged to
do their best to win the tournament.
 
“All the draws were tough
and I think this is a fairly good
draw for us,” South African
coach Gordon Igesund said,
adding that the hosts, Bafana
Bafana, are determined to go
all the way to the finals.
 
His Zambian counterpart,
Herve Renard, whose team
lifted the 2012 AFCON trophy
against all odds, said
Chipolopolo, as the Zambian
team is affectionately known,
“will prove their mettle once
again”.
 
“We are confident. We are
here to make history. We did it
in 2012. No one was able to
say Zambia will win in 2012.
We stayed a small team but we
managed to go very far,” he
said.
 
DR Congo coach Claude Le
Roy said he will use his vast
experience in participating at
the AFCON to steer DRC to
victory. Le Roy is making his
seventh appearance, with different
African teams.
 
“It is my seventh Africa
Cup of Nations so I know I
have the experience, but I
must admit that it will be difficult,”
the 1988 Nations Cup
winner said.
 
The Angolan coach Gustavo
Ferrin said hosting the 2010
AFCON in Luanda had
helped the country improve
its preparation for such tournaments.
He said the Sable
Antelopes would “try to qualify
for the finals”.
 
The AFCON finals will be
held from 19 January to 10
February 2013. SADC is hosting
the event for only the third
time. South Africa hosted the
finals in 1994, the first to be
held in southern Africa. Angola
was the second SADC
country to host the finals in
2010.


body:
December
26 November –7 December, Qatar
 COP 18 on Climate Change

 The 18th Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the UN
 Framework Convention on Climate Change will be
held concurrently with the Eighth Meeting of the Parties
to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 8). COP 18 will
assess progress in dealing with climate change issues
and deadlines.
1, Global
 World Aids Day

On 1 December each year SADC joins the rest of the
world in commemorating World Aids Day. The theme
for the event until 2015 is “Getting to Zero”, signifying
commitment to reduce the prevalence of HIV and
AIDS to zero.
 
16-20,South Africa
 ANC 53rd National Conference

The African National Congress of South Africa holds
an elective conference every five years to elect the
party leadership and review progress. The ANC’s nine
provinces support candidates for the party’s top six positions.
The 2012 conference in Mangaung follows a
policy review conference in August.
 
January
15-17, United Arab Emirates
 6th World Future Energy Summit

The summit will concentrate on energy innovation in
policy implementation, technology development, finance
and investment approaches, and existing and
upcoming projects.
 
19 Jan-10 Feb,South Africa
 African Cup of Nations

A total of 16 countries from Africa will compete in the
bi-annual soccer tournament. Four teams from SADC
– Angola, DRC, South Africa and Zambia – will raise
the regional profile at the finals.
 
28-29, Ethiopia 
20th Ordinary Session of the African Union

Heads of State and Government will gather for the
20th Ordinary Session of the African Union, preceded
by the usual technical meetings and the Council of
Ministers. The theme of the summit is “Pan-Africanism
and African Renaissance”.
 
February
18-22, Kenya
 27th Session of the Governing Council of the Global
Ministerial Environment Forum

The council convenes annually to review important
and emerging policy issues in the field of environment.
It aims to promote international cooperation as well as
provide general policy guidance for the direction and
coordination of environmental programmes globally.
 
19-21,South Africa
 Africa Energy Indaba

The annual conference aims to explore ways in which
Africa can harness its huge energy resources to achieve
energy self-sufficiency. It is a forum for professionals
from across the globe to debate and define solutions
to Africa's energy challenges.
 
TBA, Mozambique
 SADC Council of Ministers

Ministers from each Member State sit in Council, usually
from the ministries of foreign affairs, economic development,
planning or finance. Council is responsible
for supervising and monitoring the functions and development
of SADC, and ensuring that policies are
properly implemented, as well as making recommendations
to Summit.
 
TBA,South Africa
 SADC Infrastructure Investment Conference

The conference will seek to lure potential investors for
the SADC regional infrastructure development programme.
It will be followed by road shows in Asia, Europe
and the United States for the same purpose.


title:
Zimbabwe Unity Accord 22 December 1987

Abstract:
ZIMBABWE COMMEMORATES
the 25th anniversary of the Unity
Agreement in 2012.

body:
ZIMBABWE COMMEMORATES
the 25th anniversary of the Unity
Agreement in 2012.
On 22 December 1987, the two
liberation parties in Zimbabwe –
the Zimbabwe African National
Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF)
and the Patriotic Front Zimbabwe
African People’s Union (PF ZAPU)
– signed the historic Unity Agreement
to facilitate socio-economic
development and political stability.
 
The then Prime Minister and
First Secretary of ZANU, Robert
Mugabe, and the President of
ZAPU, Joshua Nkomo, signed the
agreement that resulted in the
merger of the two parties to form a
united ZANU PF, effectively stopping
the political dissatisfaction
and instability that had erupted in
the south-west of the country in the
early 1980s, and closing ranks
against apartheid South Africa’s
manipulation of the situation.
 
Mugabe was elected First Secretary
and President of the unified
ZANU PF and it was agreed that
the party would have two second
secretaries and vice presidents to be
appointed by the first secretary and
president of the party.
 
Joshua Nkomo and Simon
Muzenda were the two Vice Presidents
appointed, and both played a
significant role in implementation
of the agreement.
 
The Unity Agreement was significant
in that it showed that the
leaders of the main political parties
had the capacity to resolve their differences
for the nation and the region
in general.
 
"Today is a great day. It is great
because we have seen the coming
together in body, mind and spirit of
our two parties,” Mugabe said after
the signing ceremony.
 
"What we are witnessing is a
tremendous blow to the forces of
negation, the forces of division, the
forces of destruction...let them be
laid to rest for eternity."
 
Nkomo added that the accord
was "the beginning of unity, for
unity is not just the signing of documents,
unity is what follows."
 
The two parties’ historical links
date back to the Patriotic Front alliance
which was the effective instrument
for prosecuting the
struggle against white minority
rule and winning democracy and
national independence for Zimbabwe.
 
The first united front was
achieved in 1896, during the First
Chimurenga War against the white
miners and settlers when the Shona
and Ndebele leaders collaborated
to resist colonial domination.
 
They also worked together during
the Second Chimurenga War
when they formed the Patriotic
Front in 1976 to provide a joint
front at the Geneva talks to discuss
Zimbabwe’s the modalities for independence.
 
This followed the coming together
of the parties under the banner
of the African National Council
to give a resounding "No" to the
Pearce Commission on constitutional
change in 1971.
 
The signing of the Unity Agreement
is commemorated each year
on 22 December, a public holiday
called National Unity Day.
 
Among the celebrations to mark
National Unity Day are a number
of sporting events, including an international
soccer match in which
the winning team receives the
Unity Cup, and a massive all-night
musical gala in one of the
provinces.


Abstract:
THE CHINESE New Year or Spring Festival is the
most important festival for Mauritians of Chinese
origin.The festival is celebrated every year in January
or February as the lunar new year, and in 2013
the festival will be held on 10 February.

body:
THE CHINESE New Year or Spring Festival is the
most important festival for Mauritians of Chinese
origin.The festival is celebrated every year in January
or February as the lunar new year, and in 2013
the festival will be held on 10 February.
It is preceded by a thorough cleaning of the home
and is characterised by the traditional sharing of
wax cakes among relatives and friends. The dominant
colour during the festival is red, which is the
symbol of happiness.
 
Special celebrations are held in Port Louis every
year with Chinese dragon and lion dances. No
knives or scissors are used on this day and food offerings
are made so that the following year will be
one of plenty.


title:
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN SADC
December 2012-February 2013

body:
8 December Immaculate Conception Seychelles

9 December Independence Day Tanzania

10 December International Human
Rights Day Namibia

16 December Day of Reconciliation South Africa

17 December Public Holiday South Africa

22 December National Unity Day Zimbabwe

25 December Christmas SADC
Family day Angola, Mozambique

26 December Day of Goodwill South Africa
Family Day Namibia

Boxing Day Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Zimbabwe

31 December Incwala Day
(date to be confirmed) Swaziland
1 January New Year’s Day SADC

2 January Public Holiday Botswana, Mauritius

4 January Martyrs Day DRC

12 January Zanzibar Revolution Day Tanzania

15 January John Chilembwe Day Malawi

16 January Heroes Day (Laurent Kabila) DRC

17 January Heroes Day (Patrice Lumumba) DRC

24 January Maulid Day Tanzania

27 January Thaipoosam Cavadee Mauritius
 
1 February Abolition of Slavery Day Mauritius

3 February Heroes Day Mozambique

4 February Public Holiday Mozambique

4 February National Liberation Day Angola

10 February Chinese Spring Festival Mauritius

12 February Carnival Angola


