# tblSANF

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


Abstract:
THE YEAR 2013 holds the key to several important
regional milestones, including the implementation
of an ambitious programme to
develop cross-border infrastructure and the
conclusion of electoral processes leading to
polls in two SADC Member States, as well as
entering into force of the SADC Protocol on
Gender and Development.

body:
THE YEAR 2013 holds the key to several important
regional milestones, including the implementation
of an ambitious programme to
develop cross-border infrastructure and the
conclusion of electoral processes leading to
polls in two SADC Member States, as well as
entering into force of the SADC Protocol on
Gender and Development.
The ongoing effort by SADC to address the
deteriorating security situation in the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC) is also likely to
dominate the regional agenda this year.
The Regional Infrastructure Development
Master Plan will lead future cooperation and
planning, which is essential for attracting investment
into the SADC region and promoting
intra-and inter-regional trade as well as foreign
direct investment.
 
Estimated to cost US$500 billion, the master
plan will guide SADC’s implementation of
trans-boundary infrastructure networks that
are coordinated and integrated in the six priority
sectors of energy, transport, tourism, information
technology, meteorology and water.
 
An infrastructure investment conference in
April or May this year is expected to attract potential
investors, with road shows in Asia, Europe
and the United States.
 
A significant challenge for 2013 is that it is the
final year before the 2014 target set by regional
power utilities for balancing electricity supply
and demand.
 
The region has been experiencing a power
deficit in recent years due to growing demand
against limited expansion in generation capacity.
 
Almost all SADC member states have embarked
on projects to boost their electricity generation
capacity, in initiatives ranging from
conventional infrastructure projects to innovations,
and short term to long term plans.
 
According to the Southern African Power
Pool, which groups power utilities from 12
SADC member states, the electricity deficit will
be erased by 2014, provided that planned generation
projects are implemented on time.
 
In this regard, the year 2013 provides
SADC member states with an opportunity to
intensify their implementation ahead of the
2014 target.
 
A main challenge to regional development
in 2013, in addition to the uncertain global financial
environment, is the conflict in eastern
DRC where anti-government rebels have
threatened to march on Kinshasa, the capital of
the vast, mineral-rich country.
 
The conflict in eastern DRC
has generated a massive humanitarian
crisis, with serious
implications for regional integration
and socio-economic development.
 
SADC leaders held an extraordinary
summit in Maputo
in February to discuss the security
situation in eastern DRC following
a Troika summit in Dar
es Salaam in January when the
SADC Chairperson, President
Armando Guebuza of Mozambique,
met with the three leaders
who form the Troika of the
SADC Organ on Politics, Defence
and Security Cooperation.
 
Nine SADC Member States
have pledged to contribute
troops to a Neutral International
Force (NIF) to be deployed in
the DRC – Angola, Lesotho,
Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia,
South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia
and Zimbabwe.
 
SADC leaders have urged
the African Union Commission,
SADC and the International
Conference on the Great Lakes
Region to urgently engage the
United Nations on the deployment
of the NIF in eastern DRC.
(see page 7)
 
2013 is also the year when
the SADC Protocol on Gender
and Development entered into
force following ratification by
two-thirds of the Member
States.
 
Ten SADC member states
ratified this agreement and
there is quantifiable progress at
various levels in all member
states toward the equality and
empowerment of women
alongside men in southern
Africa. The regional target is
gender parity – 50:50 by 2015.
 
With regard to political situation
in the region, longawaited
elections in
Madagascar are scheduled for
this year and are expected to
end a protracted political dispute
in the Indian Ocean Island.
 
The first round of Madagascar’s
presidential elections is
scheduled for 8 May, with a second
round set for 3 July. The
Malagasy president is elected by
majority vote through a tworound
system to serve a fiveyear
term.
 
The Independent National
Election Commission of the
Transition has said that parliamentary
elections will be held
concurrently with the second
round of the presidential vote
on 3 July, with municipal elections
tentatively set for 23 October.
 
Madagascar’s political parties
signed a roadmap in 2011 in
an agreement brokered by
SADC mediators, which allowed
for the unconditional return
from exile of former
president Marc Ravalomanana,
who was deposed in 2009 in a
coup led by opposition leader
Andry Rajoelina.
 
Ravalomanana, who is exiled
in South Africa, announced
in December 2012 that he will
not stand for election and urged
his rival to follow suit. SADC
leaders announced in January
that Rajoelina has also agreed
not to stand in the elections.
 
Another important milestone
is the anticipated end of
the process to develop a new
constitution in Zimbabwe and
the holding of general elections
this year.
 
SADC, represented by
South African President Jacob
Zuma, is facilitating the process
of implementation of the Global
Political Agreement (GPA) in
Zimbabwe, but the closure has
been delayed by the lengthy
process of drafting a new Constitution
to replace the one inherited
at Independence in 1980,
following the Lancaster House
agreement.
 
The parties to the GPA and
parliament have approved the
draft Constitution, and this
2013
Year of regional development
will be put to a referendum on
16 March. The referendum, regardless
of its outcome, will be
followed later by general elections.
 
In addition to the polls in
Madagascar and Zimbabwe,
local government and parliamentary
elections are expected
in Mozambique and Swaziland,
respectively.
 
This year is also expected
to mark the conclusion of the
first phase of negotiations on
the establishment of the Tripartite
Free Trade Area (TFTA) involving
the Common Market
for Eastern and Southern
Africa (COMESA), East
African Community (EAC)
and SADC.
 
The Tripartite Trade Negotiation
Forum involving the
three regional economic communities
completed the
preparatory phase of negotiations
in 2012 and has proceeded
to the next phase.
 
Negotiations for the TFTA
will be conducted in three
phases – preparatory phase,
phase one and phase two. The
preparatory phase mainly involved
the exchange of relevant
information, including
tariffs applicable in each country
as well as trade data and
measures.
 
Phase one negotiations will
cover core FTA issues of tariff
liberalization, rules of origin,
customs procedures and simplification
of customs documentation.
Facilitating movement of
business persons within the region
will be negotiated in parallel
with phase one.
 
According to the roadmap
adopted at the second joint
COMESA-EAC-SADC Summit
in June 2011, all negotiations
for the so-called Grand FTA
should be completed within 36
months. COMESA, EAC and
SADC are expected to launch
the single FTA by 2016.


title:
Council of Ministers to discuss 2013 work programme

Abstract:
THE SADC Council of Ministers
is expected to meet in
Mozambique in March to discuss
the policy programme
for 2013.

body:
THE SADC Council of Ministers
is expected to meet in
Mozambique in March to discuss
the policy programme
for 2013.
The Council is responsible
for supervising and monitoring
the functions and development
of SADC and
ensuring that policies are
properly implemented.

It meets twice a year to deliberate
on institutional matters,
including approving
yearly budgets and strategic
plans for implementation by
the SADC Secretariat based
on Botswana.

The ministers, usually responsible
for foreign affairs,
international cooperation,
economic development, planning
or finance, meet again on
the eve of Summit in August/
September to prepare policy
recommendations for SADC
Heads of State and Government.

In Mozambique, Council
will assess progress on a number
of decisions taken so far
such as the mid-term review
of the Regional Indicative
Strategic Development Plan
(RISDP), the region’s 15-year
development blueprint.

The review, which started
in 2012 and is expected to be
completed this year, is expected
to result in the development
of a focussed work
programme that would enhance
regional integration.

Council is also expected to
discuss an improved draft
SADC Communications
Strategy that will incorporate
a clear implementation business
plan and set timeframes.


Abstract:
AN INDEPENDENT review
of the SADC Regional Indicative
Strategic Development
Plan (RISDP) is expected to be
completed this year, paving the
way for the region to deepen
integration and tackle other
emerging issues such as climate
change and global development.

body:
AN INDEPENDENT review
of the SADC Regional Indicative
Strategic Development
Plan (RISDP) is expected to be
completed this year, paving the
way for the region to deepen
integration and tackle other
emerging issues such as climate
change and global development.
The RISDP is a 15-year
strategic roadmap set by Member
States as a blueprint for regional
development and
integration. It was approved by
the SADC Heads of State and
Government Summit in 2003,
and its effective implementation
began in 2005 and will run
until 2020.
 
The plan, being implemented
in five-year phases,
provides Member States with a
consistent and comprehensive
programme of long-term economic
and social policies.
 
The review follows a desk
assessment of the RISDP by the
SADC Secretariat in 2011.
 
The Zimbabwe-based
Trade and Development Studies
Centre (TRADES Centre) is
conducting the independent review
which began in 2012.
 
The review should enable
Member States and external
stakeholders from civil society,
private sectors and others to reflect
on the key issues that
should become priorities in the
next phase of implementation.
In this regard, the review
provides SADC with an opportunity
to boldly tackle
some fundamental issues,
keeping in mind that the
RISDP is a strategic plan, and
not a legally binding instrument.
 
It also provides the SADC
Secretariat and its subsidiary
institutions with insight into
SADC-approved economic and
social policies and priorities.
The RISDP sets out the SADC
priorities as follows:

Sustainable peace and security
in the region;

Trade liberalization and economic
development;

Infrastructure development
to support regional integration;

Sustainable food security;

HIV and AIDS; and,

Crosscutting issues of skills
development, gender equality,
science and technology,
private sector development,
environment and sustainable
development.


 
The independent review is
also expected to tackle other
emerging issues such as climate
change, poverty and global development.
 
“We welcome the review,
taking into account changing
regional and global developments,”
Trudi Hartzenberg, executive
director of Trade and
Law Centre, said at a regional
development workshop held in
Harare, Zimbabwe.
 
“The review provides an
opportunity to consider the
RISDP review to be finalised in 2013
commitment of Member States
to fundamental rules-based
governance; focusing on how
to deal with the challenges of
non-compliance and ensuring a
dispute resolution regime
which is essential in rulesbased
governance,” she said.
 
A robust review of the
RISDP would also allow SADC
to develop an agenda that is appropriate
for the 21st century,
providing a policy, legal and institutional
framework for decisions
by economic actors that
enhance their competitiveness
and contribute to addressing
fundamental development
challenges such as unemployment
and poverty.
 
Some of the SADC milestones
set out in the RISDP include
the attainment of the
SADC Free Trade Area (FTA) by
2008, the Common Market by
2015, Monetary Union by 2016,
and Single Currency by 2018.
 
SADC successfully
launched its FTA in 2008 and
this milestone has contributed
to improving intra-regional
trade. Preparations are underway
to facilitate the establishment
of other milestones.
 
The RISDP also re-affirms
the commitment of SADC
Member States to good, political,
economic and corporate
governance entrenched in a
culture of democracy, participation
by civil society, transparency
and respect for the rule
of law.
 
The ultimate objective of
the plan is to deepen the integration
agenda of SADC with a
view to accelerating poverty
eradication and the attainment
of other economic and non-economic
development goals.
 
The desk assessment conducted
by the SADC Secretariat
based on the RISDP Implementation
Framework 2005-2010
found out that there was “satisfactory
levels of RISDP implementation”
over the past five
years.
 
The assessments noted that
all sectors were able to either
fully or partially reach most of
the different outputs and targets
within the stated timeframe.
 
The review indicated some
significant progress on Infrastructure
and Services, with
about 60 percent of all outputs
having been fully achieved, and
40 percent partially achieved.
 
With regard to Food, Agriculture
and Natural Resources
(FANR), about 64 percent of the
output targets had been fully
achieved, 28 percent partially
achieved and eight percent had
not been achieved.
 
While the desk assessment
has provided an
overview of the implementation
status of the different sectors
outlined in the RISDP, a
broader assessment that involves
all key stakeholders in
the Member States is expected
to provide a more
comprehensive analysis.


body:
KEY FINDINGS of the RISDP desk assessment by the SADC Secretariat
include the following:
Fostering implementation by Member States – Increased advocacy
and technical assistance are needed to facilitate domestication
and implementation of these frameworks in order to achieve
the impact of regional integration.

Effective structures for cooperation by the Secretariat and Member
State – Suitable tools and procedures are needed to ensure
that Member States are able to provide feedback of regional interests.

Realistic targets and ongoing RISDP evaluation – Targets must
be realistic in the formulation of policies, strategies and implementation
frameworks.

Lack of human, financial and technical resources at SADC Secretariat
– Member States are encouraged to adequately fund all interventions,
including research and extension, as these are currently
over-dependent on International Cooperating Partners.

Fostering monitoring and evaluation – Baselines are needed in diverse
areas of cooperation to measure impact of regional programmes.

Mainstreaming crosscutting issues – Effective structures are
needed to take responsibility for mainstreaming the crosscutting issues
into all programmes.

Improve think-tank capacity of Secretariat – The Secretariat should
be enabled to provide more strategic and long-term advice to Member
States.

SADC as platform for common Pan-African and global positions –
Greater collaboration is needed among regional institutions to facilitate
effective and efficient implementation of joint positions and activities.


title:
BRICS and Africa – Partnerships for Integration and Industrialization

Abstract:
SOUTH AFRICA will host the
5th BRICS Summit in March
under the theme “BRICS and
Africa – partnerships for integration
and industrialization.”

body:
SOUTH AFRICA will host the
5th BRICS Summit in March
under the theme “BRICS and
Africa – partnerships for integration
and industrialization.”
The BRICS group of emerging
economies, comprising
Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa, is regarded
as having the fastest emerging
markets in the world.
 
Studies show that by the
year 2050 the combined
economies of BRICS could
eclipse the combined
economies of the current richest
countries of the world.
 
The summit set for 26-27
March is expected to delib-
erate on a number of issues to
promote partnership between
BRICS countries and Africa.
 
Key focus areas for the
summit are:
Promotion of African infrastructure
development;

Establishment of a BRICSled
development bank;

Establishment of a BRICS
think tank; and,

Creation of a BRICS business
council.


 
South Africa’s deputy minister
for International Relations
and Cooperation,
Ebrahim Ebrahim, said preparations
are progressing
well to ensure South
Africa hosts a successful
summit.
 
He said for
the first time, the
summit will include
a dialogue
between BRICS
leaders and African Heads of
State and Government from
the eight Regional Economic
Communities (RECs) on the
continent.
 
Economic analysts have
pointed out that South Africa
has more to benefit from
BRICS if the country represents
the interests of Africa.
South Africa has an economy
of about US$290 billion –
the smallest of the BRICS nations
and less than a quarter of
that of Russia.
 
Its population is estimated
at about 49 million compared
to China’s 1.3 billion, India’s
1.2 billion, Brazil’s 191 million,
and Russia’s 142 million.
 
Regardless of the size,
South Africa is in a unique position
to influence African economic
growth and investment.
Africa’s combined Gross Domestic
Product is similar to
that of Brazil and Russia, and
slightly above that of India.
 
Being the only country on
the continent in this grouping
of emerging markets, South
Africa can thus act as a gateway
to southern Africa and the
entire African continent.
 
BRICS countries are individually
making inroads into
Africa and have already seen
increased trade and investment,
particularly Brazil,
China and India.
 
The BRICS summit is held
each year and hosting rotates
among member states. The last
summit was held in India in
2012.
 
The BRICS mechanism aims
to achieve peace, security, development
and cooperation. It
also seeks to contribute significantly
to the development of
humanity and establish a more
equitable and fair world.


Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICA is
making efforts to launch its
long-awaited SADC Customs
Union in 2013 in a bid to
deepen regional integration
and consolidate socio-economic
development.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICA is
making efforts to launch its
long-awaited SADC Customs
Union in 2013 in a bid to
deepen regional integration
and consolidate socio-economic
development.
The target for the establishment
of a Customs Union was
originally set for 2010. However,
due to unforeseen challenges,
the date was shelved to
allow Member States more time
to consolidate the implementation
and gains of the Free Trade
Area (FTA) launched in 2008.
 
“Due to capacity constraints
within the SADC Secretariat,
the implementation
of the Regional Indicative
Strategic Development Plan
started late, meaning this
milestone [SADC Customs
Union] has not yet been attained,”
SADC says on its
website.
 
“However, it is anticipated
that that the establishment of
the SADC Customs Union will
be reached by 2013.”
 
A Customs Union is an advanced
stage of integration
when compared to a FTA as it
does not require tariffs or quotas
on goods originating from
within the region.
 
The delays in the implementation
of the SADC Customs
Union mean that some
of the programmes planned
by SADC to deepen economic
integration may be affected.
 
The milestones include
launch of the SADC Common
Market, which was set for 2015
and the Monetary Union set for
2018.


Abstract:
FIVE SADC countries are
planning to coordinate their
rail services to increase trade
through the port of Durban,
South Africa.

body:
FIVE SADC countries are
planning to coordinate their
rail services to increase trade
through the port of Durban,
South Africa.
Railway companies
from Botswana, Democratic
Republic of Congo,
South Africa, Zambia, and
Zimbabwe will use their
existing rail infrastructure
to facilitate transport to the
Indian Ocean port.
 
The head of international
business at Transnet
Freight Rail, Nyameka
Madikizela, said the main
objective is to “align the
five railway lines towards a
unified railway system on
the North-South Corridor
by establishing a Joint Operating
Centre in Bulawayo,
Zimbabwe.”


title:
Above-normal rainfall forecast for southern Africa

Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICAN climate
experts have forecast normal
to above-normal rainfall in
most parts of the region during
the period January to May 2013.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICAN climate
experts have forecast normal
to above-normal rainfall in
most parts of the region during
the period January to May 2013.
The rainfall outlook 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.
 
The 16th Southern Africa Regional
Climate Outlook Forum
for Mid-Season Update, which
met in Zambia recently, divided
the period into three monthly
outlooks, namely January to
March, February to April, and
March to May.
 
Most of the Democratic Republic
of Congo (DRC), northernmost
Angola and
southernmost Madagascar are
expected to receive normal to
below-normal total rainfall in
the January to March period.
 
During February to April,
only north-eastern Tanzania is
forecast to experience normal
to below-normal rainfall while
the rest of the region is expected
to receive normal to
above-normal rainfall.
 
A similar pattern is forecast
for March to May, with most
parts of the region expected to
receive normal to above-normal
rainfall, except for the extreme
north-western parts of the DRC
where normal to below-normal
rainfall is expected.
 
Above-normal rainfall is defined
as lying within the wettest
third of average recorded rainfall
amounts during the 30-year
period between 1971 and 2000,
while below-normal is within
the driest third of rainfall
amounts, and normal rainfall is
the middle third.
 
The scientists also considered
that El Nino-Southern Oscillation
(ENSO) is going to be
in a neutral phase which is projected
to persist into early 2013.
 
El Nino is a weather condition
that 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, usually causing
droughts in southern Africa or
contributing to their severity.
 
The regional outlook provides
a first case scenario of
the seasonal outlook process
which then requires a localized
review by national meteorological
departments before it
can be finalised.
 
Users are therefore strongly
advised to contact the National
Meteorological and Hydrological
Services for interpretation of
what normal to above-normal
would mean in terms of rainfall
amount, when to plant, updates
and other additional guidance.
 
It is also relevant only to seasonal
timescales and relatively
large areas, and may not fully
account for all factors that influence
regional and national climate
variability, such as local
and month-to-month variations.


Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICAN
countries have been urged to
oppose the World Health Organisation
(WHO) Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICAN
countries have been urged to
oppose the World Health Organisation
(WHO) Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control.
The Association of SADC
Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (ASCCI) says the
WHO-FCTC has not fully considered
the wellbeing of farming
communities in
tobacco-producing countries. 
 
WHO-FCTC Article 17 and
18, which deal with tobacco
farming, seek to force farmers
to phase out tobacco growing
to alternative crops such as
food crops, whether or not demand
for tobacco continues.
 
Other measures proposed
by the WHO-FCTC include the
reduction of the area allocated
to tobacco farming, a ban on financial
and technical support
for tobacco farmers, and the
dismantling of all bodies connecting
tobacco growers with
governments.
 
ASCCI President Oswell
Binha said southern Africa
could not understate the importance
of the tobacco crop in
the region.
 
“Millions of people in the
SADC region are reliant on the
tobacco crop for their livelihoods...
any guidelines to transition
farmers out of tobacco
must be underpinned by
proven scientific evidence as
well as direct consultation
with farmers who will be most
affected.
 
“Furthermore, we believe
that attempts to impose uniform
measures or set values on
taxes for all countries undermine
the sovereign right of
countries to establish and collect
taxes in accordance with
their national needs and interests,”
said Binha.
 
According to a recent study
by the Tobacco Institute of
Southern Africa, tobacco is an
important contributor to most
economies in the region, with
about 1.1 million acres under
tobacco production. The sector
employs close to four million
people in the region.
 
All SADC Member States are
parties to the WHO-FCTC, except
Malawi and Zimbabwe.


Abstract:
THE TWO main political rivals in
Madagascar have resolved not to stand
in presidential elections set for May
amid regional and international pressure
to give the island nation a fresh
start after four years of constitutional
crisis.

body:
THE TWO main political rivals in
Madagascar have resolved not to stand
in presidential elections set for May
amid regional and international pressure
to give the island nation a fresh
start after four years of constitutional
crisis.
Andry Rajoelina, President of the
Transition in Madagascar, and former
president Marc Ravalomanana have
both said they will not stand in the
forthcoming presidential elections.
 
This follows pressure from SADC
and the African Union for the two rivals
to stand aside to prevent any repeat of
the turmoil that arose from
a 2009 coup that brought
Rajoelina to power.
 
“I will not stand in the
presidential elections. I prefer
to sacrifice myself rather than
sacrifice 22 million Malagasy
people. We
want peace,”
Rajoelina said in
a speech in January.
 
Ravalomanana had announced in
December 2012 that he will not stand
again, saying he wants the country to
rebuild itself.
 
The Troika of the SADC Organ on
Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation,
meeting at an extraordinary summit
in the United Republic of Tanzania
in December 2012, welcomed the decision
by Rajoelina and Ravalomanana
not to contest in the presidential elections
“as a way forward towards resolving
this crisis.”
 
The Troika also proposed that the
Rajoelina administration should pass an
amnesty law to allow Ravalomanana to
return to the country before the elections.
 
The former president was sentenced
to life imprisonment with
hard labour in 2010 for his part in the
deaths of about 30 protesters during the
riots leading up to his unconstitutional
removal.
 
Madagascar slid into political turmoil
in March 2009 when the then opposition
leader Rajoelina seized power
from Ravalomanana in a public demonstration
backed by the military.
 
The coup was similar to the method
used by Ravalomanana when he seized
power a few years earlier from his predecessor,
Didier Ratsiraka.
 
SADC-led mediation efforts have
seen both leaders, together with two
other former Malagasy presidents including
Ratsiraka, agreeing to set up a
transitional government to govern the
country until fresh elections are held.


title:
SADC Organ Troika - Declaration on Madagascar

Abstract:
RECALLING ALL the decisions taken by the SADC Summits
of Heads of State and Government on the political situation
in Madagascar;

Recognizing the need of preserving the interests of the
Malagasy people;

body:
RECALLING ALL the decisions taken by the SADC Summits
of Heads of State and Government on the political situation
in Madagascar;

Recognizing the need of preserving the interests of the
Malagasy people;

Reaffirming:

that the Roadmap remains the only viable mechanism
for ending the crisis in Madagascar;

Further our commitment to help the Malagasy people
put an end to the political crisis in Madagascar and return
the country to constitutional normalcy;

the need of respecting the electoral calendar as
adopted by the National Independent Electoral Commission
of the Transition (CENIT) and the United Nations (UN).

We, Presidents Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete (of the United
Republic of Tanzania), Hifikepunye Pohamba (of
the Republic of Namibia), and Jacob Gedleyihlekisa
Zuma (of the Republic of South Africa)
of the SADC Organ Troika and President Armando
Emilio Guebuza, (of the Republic of
Mozambique), Chairperson of SADC, hereby
decide as follows:
 

Welcome and commend the undertaking made by H.E.
Andry Rajoelina, President of Transition in Madagascar
and H.E. Marc Ravalomanana, former President of Madagascar
to the effect that they will not stand for the forthcoming
Presidential and Parliamentary elections;

Urge the Malagasy people to promote the spirit of reconciliation,
peace and stability and to refrain from all acts
of destabilization in the country;

Also urge the Malagasy political stakeholders
to assume their responsibility of peacefully delivering
Madagascar out of the crisis;

Reiterate that Government Members should resign
from office sixty (60) days before the election date, should they
decide to run for the legislative and/or presidential elections as
provided for in Article 14 of the Roadmap;

Also reiterate that “the President, the Government, the Heads
of Institutions and the entire administrative machinery of the
Transition shall remain neutral during the transition period,
particularly in the electoral process” (Article 15 of the
Roadmap);

Further reiterate the SADC endorsement of the electoral calendar
of the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections scheduled for
May and July 2013;

Call upon the Malagasy Parliament of Transition to enact legislation
to grant comprehensive amnesty to H.E. Andry Rajoelina,
President of the Transition in Madagascar and H.E. Marc Ravalomanana,
former President of Madagascar. This amnesty should
also be extended to the Malagasy security forces;

Urge the Malagasy Parliament of Transition to enact legislation
on status of former Malagasy Presidents. This legislation should
include relevant privileges and immunities;

SADC leadership and the SADC Mediator on Madagascar will
continue to be seized with the matter.
Done in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, 10 January
2013

 

Done in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, 10 January
2013


Abstract:
SADC HEADS of State and
Government have called for a
peaceful and durable resolution
of the conflict in eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo
and have pledged to contribute
troops to be deployed
for this purpose.

body:
SADC HEADS of State and
Government have called for a
peaceful and durable resolution
of the conflict in eastern
Democratic Republic of Congo
and have pledged to contribute
troops to be deployed
for this purpose.
The conflict in eastern
DRC is a major setback to regional
integration and development
that impacts on all
countries in southern Africa,
hence SADC leaders have decided
that collective efforts are
needed to address the situation.
 
Nine SADC Member
States have agreed to contribute
troops to the Neutral
International Force (NIF) - Angola,
Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius,
Namibia, South Africa,
United Republic of Tanzania,
Zambia and Zimbabwe.
 
South Africa has offered to
provide logistical support to
the NIF, while Tanzania has
offered to provide a Force
Commander for the NIF.
 
Other contributions by
Member States or the international
community to the NIF
are yet to be announced, and
once all the logistics are clear,
SADC is expected to deploy
its force in eastern DRC.
 
The SADC Extraordinary
Summit of the Heads of State
and Government, meeting in
Maputo, Mozambique in early
February, said deployment of
troops in eastern DRC would
be done in close collaboration
with the International Conference
on the Great Lakes Region
(ICGLR).
 
Five SADC Member States
are also members of the
ICGLR, including DRC, as
well as Angola, Malawi, Tanzania
and Zambia.
 
The SADC Extraordinary
Summit urged the African
Union and SADC/ICGLR “to
urgently engage the United
Nations on the deployment of
NIF in eastern DRC,” and
commended the UN Secretary
General for the proposed
Peace, Security and Cooperation
Framework for the eastern
part DRC and the Region.
 
The NIF is expected to
maintain and preserve peace,
and ensure the destabilization
does not spread to other parts
of the country and the region.
 
According to the Tanzanian
President, Jakaya Kikwete,
who chairs the Troika of the
SADC Organ on Politics, Defence
and Security Cooperation,
the actual size of the
contribution from each country
that has pledged is yet to
be determined “as there are
matters which are being
worked upon especially on
who will be doing what in
DRC. These include matters
such as logistics.”
 
The Organ Troika Summit
held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,
in January, and attended
also by the SADC Chairperson,
welcomed “UN support
for the deployment of the NIF
through the proposed UN
Framework Concept for
an Intervention Brigade
in the eastern DRC and
expressed its readiness
to work with UN.”
 
The Troika Summit
reiterated its call for “urgent
attention to the
grave humanitarian situation
in the Eastern DRC.”
South African President
Jacob Zuma, who is a member
of the SADC Organ Troika,
said
 
“Part of the reason why we
should have the Neutral International
Force is to prevent
those outside forces that enter
into the DRC and cause the
trouble there.”
 
Last year, SADC leaders
formally accused Rwanda of
supporting the rebels and the
SADC Chairperson, President
Armando Guebuza of
Mozambique, visited Rwanda
for discussions with President
Paul Kagame.
 
The DRC slid into political
turmoil early last year and escalated
in November when
anti-government rebels calling
themselves the March 23
movement invaded and captured
the city of Goma, causing
displacement of people
and loss of lives and property.
 
The rebels have since
threatened to march on Kinshasa,
the capital of the vast,
mineral-rich country.
 
SADC has demanded the
cessation of hostilities, and
called for peaceful and
durable resolution of the conflict,
saying it can be resolved
through collective dialogue.
 
SADC leaders meeting at
Summit last year in August
2012 noted that the disturbance
in DRC is being perpetrated by
rebel groups with assistance of
Rwanda and urged that country
to cease immediately its interference
“that constitutes a
threat to peace and stability, not
only of the DRC, but also of the
SADC region.”


Abstract:
THE UNITED Nations is considering
support for the deployment
of a peacekeeping
force to the Democratic Republic
of Congo.

body:
THE UNITED Nations is considering
support for the deployment
of a peacekeeping
force to the Democratic Republic
of Congo.
UN peacekeeping chief
Herve Ladsous said an agreement
to deploy an intervention
brigade would be signed
soon, adding the force would
be sent to the eastern DRC to
“neutralize” armed militias.
 
He said helicopters and
“drones” would be used to
maintain peace and stability in
the country, although neighbouring
countries including
Rwanda have rejected the use
of the electronic surveillance
aircraft known as drones.
 
The UN wants to use the
drones, developed and manufactured
in the United States
for use in surveillance in various
parts of the world, to
monitor the mineral-rich border
area of eastern DRC,
where Rwanda has been accused
of helping rebels fighting
the government.
 
The UN peacekeeping
brigade would operate under
the mandate of the
MONUSCO mission deployed
elsewhere in the DRC.
 
DRC is already the UN’s
biggest peacekeeping mission,
with more than 17,000 troops.
But the forces are spread thin
in the huge country and the
UN is under orders to cut
costs.


title:
2014-2024 Decade for Sustainable Energy for All

Abstract:
Energy Policy Brief No.11, February 2013

THE UNITED Nations has declared 2014-2024 as the Decade
for Sustainable Energy for all to underscore the importance
of energy issues in the post-2015 development agenda.

body:
Energy Policy Brief No.11, February 2013

THE UNITED Nations has declared 2014-2024 as the Decade
for Sustainable Energy for all to underscore the importance
of energy issues in the post-2015 development agenda.
In a resolution made on 21 December 2012, the UN General
Assembly called upon member states to galvanize efforts to
make universal access to sustainable modern energy services
a priority, noting that about 1.3 billion people worldwide are
without electricity and another 2.6 billion people in developing
countries rely on traditional biomass for cooking and heating.
 
It expressed concern that even when energy services are
available, millions of people are unable to pay for them.
 
The resolution stressed the need to improve access to reliable,
affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and
environmentally sound energy services and resources for
sustainable development.
 
To that end, the General Assembly also emphasized the
importance of improving energy efficiency, increasing the
share of renewable energy and cleaner technologies.
 
In its resolution, the General Assembly called upon governments
as well as relevant international and regional organizations
and other relevant stakeholders to combine, as
appropriate, the increased use of new and renewable energy
resources, more efficient use of energy, greater reliance on
advanced energy technologies, including cleaner fossil fuel
technologies, and the sustainable use of traditional energy
resources, to meet the increasing need for energy services.
 
The declaration of the decade builds on the growing interest
by Member States in energy issues. General Assembly Resolution
65/151 had declared 2012 the “International Year of Sustainable
Energy for All” and called on the Secretary-General to
organize and coordinate activities during the year to increase
awareness of the importance of addressing energy issues.
 
In response, UN Secretary-General, Ban ki-Moon has
launched the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative, which
brings together stakeholders in government, the private sector
and civil society.
 
The initiative is led by Kandeh Yumkella of Sierra Leone,
who is also the Director-General of the United Nations Industrial
Development Organisation (UNIDO) and chair of
UN Energy.
 
The purpose of the initiative is to mobilize action towards
providing universal energy access; doubling the rate of
global energy efficiency improvement; and doubling the
share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
 
According to Yumkella, sustainable energy for all is essential
for achieving the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) and for opening up new opportunities for growth
and prosperity in all countries.
 
“It is also central to discussions on the post-2015 development
agenda and proposed new sustainable development
goals,” he said.
 
As part of the initiative, the UN has launched the Global
Consultation on Energy that aims to explore why energy
matters in the post-2015 development agenda and identify
the key priority issues.
 
Its purpose is to invite an extensive range of stakeholders
to build a shared vision of the world’s future energy challenges
and the need to integrate energy into the post-2015
development agenda.
 
The effort is a part of a larger global conversation comprising
over 50 national consultations and 11 thematic consultations,
one of which is on energy.
 
The consultation is taking place both on a web-based platform
and at various face-to-face events worldwide.
 
The findings will be shared and fed into post-2015 framework
development and other related processes towards 2015
when the present agenda guided by the MDGs is expected
to come to an end.
 
Post-2015 development agenda
The eight MDGs – which range from halving extreme
poverty to halting the spread of HIV and AIDS, and providing
universal primary education – have been a milestone in
global and national development
efforts since 2000.
 
The framework has helped to galvanize development efforts
and guide global and national development priorities.
 
While three of the eight goals have been achieved prior to
the final deadline of 2015 progress has been uneven within
and across countries.
 
Further efforts and a strong global partnership for development
are, therefore, needed to accelerate progress and
reach the goals by 2015.
 
Following the outcome of the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable
Development, which initiated an inclusive intergovernmental
process to prepare a set of sustainable
development goals, there is broad agreement that there must
be close linkages between the two processes and agendas.
 
Access to energy is widely regarded as a “missing” MDG
and debate among development experts is that poverty alleviation
and the general global socio-economic condition
would improve if energy is identified as the ninth MDG.
 
Development experts argue that the failure to recognize
the central role of energy in the original MDG list has had an
impact on how the world responds to issues of sustainable
development and poverty reduction.
 
Energy affects all aspects of development – social, economic,
and environmental, including livelihoods, access to
water, agricultural productivity, health, population levels,
education, and gender-related issues.
 
For example, the majority of people in southern Africa still
rely on traditional energy sources such as wood, or other biomass
such as crop residue, which is the dominant fuel for
cooking. This comes at a huge cost to the environment as
families continue to cut down trees for much-needed fuel.
 
Therefore, attaining energy self-sufficiency would go a
long way in improving SADC’s chances of meeting the
MDGs, creating opportunities for people to come out of the
poverty trap.
 
Regional initiatives
To improve access to energy, Southern Africa has embarked
on a programme to increase the availability of various energy
sources by 2027 at a total cost of more than US$200 billion.
 
The recently announced Energy Sector Plan, part of a
broader regional infrastructure master plan approved in
2012, addresses four key strategic objectives, namely 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 electricity generation and transmission
projects; refineries, storage facilities and pipelines for the petroleum
and gas; and transport facilities for coal distribution
and exports.
 
With regards to the electricity sub-sector, the master plan
identified 73 power generation projects to increase generation
from the current 56,000 megawatts (MW) and surpass
the projected demand of 96,000 MW by 2027.
 
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 achieved self-sufficiency
in the electricity sub-sector.
 
These include harmonised policies and increased cooperation
in energy development and trading.


Abstract:
ZAMBIA AND the African Development Bank (AfDB) have
signed a US$55 million loan agreement for the construction
of the Itezhi-Tezhi hydropower station and transmission
line.

body:
ZAMBIA AND the African Development Bank (AfDB) have
signed a US$55 million loan agreement for the construction
of the Itezhi-Tezhi hydropower station and transmission
line.
The agreement was signed by Zambian Minister of Finance,
Alexander Chikwanda and AfDB country representative
Freddie Kwesiga.
 
The project will involve construction and operation of a
120-megawatt (MW) hydropower plant at Itezhi-Tezhi dam
along the Kafue River.
 
Once completed, this project will significantly increase
Zambia’s and the region’s power supply. Zambia presently
produces 1,800MW which it shares with the rest of the region
through the Southern African Power Pool.


title:
Mozambique gets US$65 million loan for power station rehabilitation

Abstract:
MOZAMBIQUE IS expected to boosts power production
after the national power utility, Electricidade de Moçambique
(EDM) secured a loan from France for the rehabilitation
of two power stations.

body:
MOZAMBIQUE IS expected to boosts power production
after the national power utility, Electricidade de Moçambique
(EDM) secured a loan from France for the rehabilitation
of two power stations.
Mozambique will get a loan of 50 million Euros to rehabilitate
the Mavuzi and Chicamba power stations in the
central province of Manica, under an agreement signed in
October with the French Development Agency.
 
The rehabilitation project should increase the generation
capacity of the two power stations by 50 percent so that
Mavuzi produces 52 megawatts (MW) while Chicamba
will generate 38MW.
 
The two stations are owned by EDM and both are on the
Revue River.


title:
Four Congresses, similar perspectives, different processes, effective practices

Abstract:
FOUR OF the main political parties in southern Africa held
congresses in the last quarter of 2012, former liberation
movements that are ruling parties in four SADC Member
States.

body:
FOUR OF the main political parties in southern Africa held
congresses in the last quarter of 2012, former liberation
movements that are ruling parties in four SADC Member
States.
The leaders of all four of these political parties are Heads
of State and current office bearers in the Southern African
Development Community (SADC).
 
While many policy concerns are similar, their political
processes offer different aspects of effective practices.
 
The party congresses were held in Mozambique at end
September, Tanzania in early November, Namibia at end November,
and South Africa in mid-December.
 
These well-established political parties have similar
themes and policy issues about economic development and
empowerment, but different systems for political structure
and leadership transition.
 
All have faced challenges of leadership transition, especially
the first transition after achieving their goal of national
independence, and some have defined solutions.
 
All face elections in 2014-2015, and have held defining
Congresses well in advance of those dates.
 
NAMIBIA

The 5th Congress of the SWAPO Party in
Windhoek, Namibia presented a strong
political process that has evolved since Independence
in 1990.
 
With the theme “Towards Equity and
Economic Emancipation”, the Congress
considered 13 policy papers refined at a
policy conference three months earlier on a range of development
issues. The SWAPO congress resolved to strengthen
implementation mechanisms.
 
The most anticipated aspect of the 5th SWAPO Party
Congress as noted in the closing statement was the election
of the party leadership. President Hifikepunye Pohamba,
who currently serves on the SADC Organ Troika, was
elected unopposed for a second term as party leader 2013-
2017.
 
This means that he will remain as party leader
after stepping down as Head of State in 2015, following
the next national elections the previous
year.
 
Therefore, the leadership contest was not at
top level, but the next level down, for vice president,
secretary-general and deputy. The winner
who emerged from the hotly contested cam-
paign as Vice President of the SWAPO Party was Dr Hage
Geingob, the Minister of Trade and Industry, and a former
prime minister.
 
Geingob was appointed Prime Minister in a cabinet
reshuffle announced immediately after the Congress. He will
be the party candidate for President in the 2014 elections.
Thus the decision is made two years ahead of elections,
avoiding divisions at election time. The contest took place,
not at the top, but at second level, with no impact on the
Head of State or stability of the country.
 
The party President appealed to all candidates to accept
the results of the closely contested election, and avoid a repetition
of the previous leadership race when the losing candidate
left to form his own party.
 
This is Namibia’s second leadership transition, after the
first one was hard fought and fraught with allegations in
which the loser refused to accept the results.
 
At the previous Congress, when the founding President,
Sam Nujoma, stepped down, the party decided to confer him
with the title of “Leader of the Namibian Revolution” with
an open invitation to attend any meetings of the party.
 
MOZAMBIQUE
Mozambique faced some of the same
challenges at the 10th Congress of the
Frelimo Party, held in the northernmost
province of Cabo Delgado.
 
President Armando Emilio Guebuza,
the party leader, is Head of State and
the current chairperson of SADC.
 
The main policy issues are contained in the National
Agenda for the Struggle Against Poverty. The main result
was the election of the new party leadership through an inclusive
electoral quota system unique to Frelimo, called “continuity
with renewal”, in which there are separate candidate
lists of women and men, voted by all delegates.
 
The complex ballot papers for Central Committee had five
sections: for those seeking re-election, newcomers, young
candidates under 35 years, economic and social areas, and
veterans of the liberation struggle. Each section
has a quota of men and women candidates,
and the children of veterans are considered
as veterans for this purpose.
 
The Political Commission has 14 members
elected plus three ex-officio members
who are the president, secretary-general and
secretary of the verification commission.
 
The 14 members of the top party leadership are elected in
two categories: 60 percent continuity (those seeking re-election)
and 40 percent renewal (newcomers). For continuity,
there are eight places – four men and four women. For the
remaining six seats, for renewal, four are reserved for men
and two for women.
 
This resulted in a wide representation broadly inclusive
of various sectors and interest groups, including 35 percent
women. The Frelimo party has three separate wings for
women, youth, and war veterans.
 
Guebuza was overwhelmingly re-elected as party leader
with 97.3 percent of the votes.
 
The biggest upset was that of the prime minister and his
predecessor both losing their seats on the Political Commission.
Government was reshuffled immediately following
Congress, with a young man who is a newcomer to the Commission
appointed as Prime Minister.
 
Guebuza is serving his second and last term as Head of
State but can remain as President of the party, as his predecessor
did before him, and therefore the party and government
are likely to have different top leadership
following the next national elections in the last quarter of
2014.
 
Frelimo structures do not include a direct line of succession
to the presidency. Although the prime minister is often
seen as a potential successor, this has not been the case to
date. The presidential candidate will be selected closer to the
time of elections.
 
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
Further north, in the United Republic
of Tanzania, where Jakaya Kikwete is
the Head of State and currently serving
as chairperson of the SADC Troika on
Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation,
the ruling party Chama Cha
Mapinduzi (CCM) held its 8th national congress.
 
Kikwete was re-elected as national chairman of the CCM
party that brought national independence under its previous
name, the Tanganyika African National Union,
and its founding father, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.
 
The United Republic of Tanzania is the
result of the union of the mainland (Tanganyika)
and Zanzibar in 1964, and the
CCM party structures also reflect this
union.
 
The 2012 congress saw the return of experienced cadres regarded
as hard-working and “clean” of corruption, who had
served the party previously in senior positions.
 
These included the top three positions under the chairman,
that is, the two vice-chairmen for the mainland and for Zanzibar,
and the secretary-general. All three posts are held by men
but a very senior and high-profile woman was elected to the
new post of secretary-general for foreign relations.
 
CCM also has no specific structure for succession and Kikwete
will remain as head of the party beyond the next national
election in October 2015 for continuity, as have his predecessors.
The presidential candidate for the next national election
will be chosen closer to the time, likely in first half of 2015.
 
SOUTH AFRICA
The last of the ruling party congresses in 2012
was the African National Congress (ANC) of
South Africa in December, when President
Jacob Zuma saw off a challenge from his
deputy, who is also deputy president of the
country.
 
The congress marked 100 years since the
ANC was formed in 1912 at the same city, in
Mangaung, with most of the party leadership re-elected, except
for the deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe who was
replaced with a well-known businessman. The chairperson
of the party remains a woman.
 
The pre-congress debate was more about leadership and
representation than the significant policy issues facing the
party, with threatened court challenges in some provinces
over the process of choosing delegates to the congress.
 
Amid a high-profile debate over party “slates” of leadership
candidates, the secretary-general denied that ANC
“arranges” the leadership, saying that lobbying is part of the
democratic process.
 
President Zuma is completing his first term as Head of
State and is a member of the SADC Troika on Politics, Defence
and Security Cooperation. He will stand for re-election
as President of South Africa in early 2014.
 
In its short history in government, the ANC
deputy president has succeeded to the top
job in the party and government, but it is
not yet clear if that will be the case in the
2019 elections by which time Zuma would
have completed his second term, as there
will be another party congress before that
time.


title:
Referendum 16 March New Draft Constitution for Zimbabwe

Abstract:
THE COMPLETION of a consultative
process on a new Constitution
for Zimbabwe clears
the way for a referendum on 16
March, followed later by elections.

body:
THE COMPLETION of a consultative
process on a new Constitution
for Zimbabwe clears
the way for a referendum on 16
March, followed later by elections.
“All parties have agreed.
We have finally agreed on the
finalisation of the draft Constitution,”
President Robert Mugabe
told a press conference in
early February, that was attended
by the other two principals
to the Global Political
Agreement (GPA) – Prime
Minister Morgan Tsvangirai
and Deputy Prime Minister
Arthur Mutambara.
 
According to the GPA
signed in 2008, the finalization
of the constitution-making
process paves the way for the
holding of general elections.
 
However, before that the
country is expected to hold a
referendum on whether to accept
or reject the new Constitution,
which replaces the
British-drafted Lancaster
House constitution that took
effect at Independence in 1980.
The referendum has been set
for March 16.
 
The main political parties –
Zanu-PF and the two MDC formations
– have started a campaign
urging their members to
vote “Yes” in the referendum.
 
Zimbabwe is expected to
hold presidential, parliamentary
and local government elections
thereafter. The date will be
announced after the referendum,
but elections are expected
this year. Under the current
Constitution, the duration of
this Parliament ends on 29 June.
 
Zimbabwe last went to the
polls in 2008, when the opposition
marginally won more
seats in Parliament while
Zanu-PF won the popular vote
and the Presidency.
 
The disputed polls resulted
in the GPA, a SADC-brokered
agreement for an inclusive gov-
ernment involving Mugabe,
Tsvangirai and Mutambara, implemented
in February 2009.
 
According to the GPA, President
Mugabe of Zanu-PF remained
Head of State, while
Tsvangirai of MDC-Tsvangirai
(MDC-T) became Prime Minister
and Mutambara of MDC
became the Deputy Prime
Minister.
 
A cabinet comprising 15
ministers from ZANU-PF, 13
from the MDC-T and three
from MDC was also sworn in.
A key component of the GPA
was the removal of sanctions
against Zimbabwe implemented
by the European Union
at the insistence of the United
Kingdom and the comprehensive
sanctions approved by
the US Congress, however this
has not happened yet and the
timeframe of processes in
those countries seem unlikely
to facilitate the lifting of sanctions
before the elections.
 
All SADC Member States
have campaigned actively for
the removal of these sanctions,
when speaking publicly and
during private discussions.
Zanu-PF organized a petition
with signatures of more than
two million Zimbabweans
calling for the lifting of sanctions.


title:
Highlights of the draft Constitution of Zimbabwe

body:
Executive authority is vested in the President, who is Head
of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the
Defence Forces. Provision is made for two vice-presidents.

The Parliament is made up of the National Assembly and
the Senate.

The National Assembly has 210 members elected by secret
ballot from 210 single-member constituencies. In addition,
for the first two parliaments after the adoption of the new
Constitution, 60 women members will be elected by proportional
representation, with six from each of the 10
provinces based on the votes cast for candidates representing
political parties in the constituency elections by
province.

The Senate will comprise of 80 members, six elected from
each province through a system of proportional representation,
based on the votes cast for candidates representing
political parties in the National Assembly elections and selected
from lists “in which male and female candidates are
listed alternatively, every list being headed by a female candidate.”
The remaining seats will be held by 18 traditional
chiefs – the President and Deputy of the Chiefs Council,
plus two each from the eight non-metropolitan provinces
elected by the provincial assembly of chiefs. Two Senate
seats are designated for representatives of people with disabilities,
with the method of election to be defined under
the electoral law.

Citizen rights have been broadened through a broader
chapter on the Declaration of Rights. The rights provided
for are the rights to life, labour, education, water, shelter,
environmental rights, freedom of expression and the media,
and marriage except for same-sex marriages.

The draft Constitution recognises 16 official languages –
Chewa, Chibarwe, English, Kalanga, Koisan, Nambya, Ndau,
Ndebele, Shangani, Shona, and sign-language, Sotho, Tonga,
Tswana, Venda and Xhosa. Previously only three languages
were recognized – English, Ndebele and Shona.

The Preamble exalts the “brave men and women who sacrificed
their lives during the national liberation struggles”,
acknowledges the richness of natural resources,
and celebrates the vibrancy of traditions and cultures.
Veterans of the liberation struggles including those who
assisted them and those who were imprisoned, detained
or restricted must be respected and empowered
economically.


title:
From stated intention to actual application SADC gender protocol enters into force

Abstract:
THE SADC Protocol on Gender
and Development has entered
into force following
ratification of the instrument
by the requisite two-thirds of
Member States.

body:
THE SADC Protocol on Gender
and Development has entered
into force following
ratification of the instrument
by the requisite two-thirds of
Member States.
According to a communiqué
issued after the annual
meeting of ministers responsible
for gender and women affairs
in the SADC region, held
in Mozambique in mid-February,
10 Member States have
ratified the protocol.
 
These are Angola, Lesotho,
Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles,
South Africa, Swaziland,
United Republic of
Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
 
“The meeting applauded
Member States efforts in depositing
instruments of ratification
that has subsequently
led to its entering into force,”
said the communiqué.
 
The meeting re-iterated the
importance of ensuring effective
implementation of the
SADC Protocol on Gender and
Development. This requires
the domestication of the Protocol
into national law.
 
The process of approval of
a regional legal instrument
requires, first, signing, and
then ratification, a process
that differs from country to
country.
 
The protocol “enters into
force” following ratification
by two-thirds of SADC Member
States. This advances the
regional law from being a
stated intention to actual application.
 
The objectives of the SADC
Protocol on Gender and Development
are to provide for
the empowerment of women,
eliminate discrimination, and
achieve gender quality and
equity through gender-responsive
legislation, policies,
programmes and projects.
 
The targets include, among
others, the achievement of 50
percent representation by
women and men in politics
and decision-making by 2015,
in line with the decision by
SADC Heads of State and
Government and the African
Union.
 
The ministers also approved
the proposal to develop
an Addendum to the
SADC Protocol on Gender and
Development to accommodate
gender and climate
change.
 
This is in response to the
concern that the impacts of climate
change affect women
and children disproportionately
in the region.


title:
Zimbabwe draft Constitution proposes gender equality 50:50

Abstract:
ZIMBABWE IS the first
SADC Member State to propose
a law guaranteeing 50
percent representation of
women and men in Parliament
and other government
bodies. According to a draft
Constitution developed by the
Constitution Parliamentary
Select Committee (COPAC),
the government must promote
full gender balance in Zimbabwean
society.

body:
ZIMBABWE IS the first
SADC Member State to propose
a law guaranteeing 50
percent representation of
women and men in Parliament
and other government
bodies. According to a draft
Constitution developed by the
Constitution Parliamentary
Select Committee (COPAC),
the government must promote
full gender balance in Zimbabwean
society.
The draft Constitution proposes
the introduction of a
quota system for women in
Parliament, setting aside 60
additional seats for women in
Parliament, six each elected
through a proportional representation
system from the 10
provinces. The draft Constitution
also proposes the establishment
of a Gender
Commission whose functions
will include monitoring issues
concerning gender equality.


title:
SADC adopts common position ahead
of UN meeting on women

Abstract:
MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE
for gender and women affairs
in the SADC region have developed
a common position
for the 57th Session of the
United Nations Commission
on the Status of Women
(CSW) scheduled for March.

body:
MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE
for gender and women affairs
in the SADC region have developed
a common position
for the 57th Session of the
United Nations Commission
on the Status of Women
(CSW) scheduled for March.
The ministers, meeting in
Mozambique in February,
adopted two important documents
– the Outcome Document
on the SADC Position on
the 57th Session of the CSW as
well as the Draft Agreed Conclusions
on the Priority Theme
on the elimination and prevention
of all forms of violence
against women and girls.
 
The ministers reiterated the
importance of key priority
concerns for the region, in particular
the need to address
domestic violence more effectively,
dealing with the root
causes of violence against
women, developing robust
sensitisation programmes targeting
families and communities
especially in rural areas.
 
Other regional priorities include
prioritisation of activities
on socialisation with a
view to change mindsets and
attitudes as well as strengthening
of efforts towards economic
empowerment of
women.


title:
African Union @ 50 Towards deeper integration

Abstract:
AS AFRICA celebrates 50
years since the formation of the
Organisation of African Unity
(OAU) – now the African
Union – African leaders have
called for deeper cooperation
among member states to ensure
the continent takes full control
of its development agenda.

body:
AS AFRICA celebrates 50
years since the formation of the
Organisation of African Unity
(OAU) – now the African
Union – African leaders have
called for deeper cooperation
among member states to ensure
the continent takes full control
of its development agenda.
This was one of the results
of the 20th Ordinary Assembly
of AU Heads of State and
Government held in late January
at the AU headquarters in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
 
The theme for the summit
and Golden Jubilee celebrations
is “Pan-Africanism and
African Renaissance”.
 
Speaking soon after assuming
the AU chair, Ethiopian
Prime Minister Hailemariam
Dessalegn said there are a
number of priority issues
which need to be addressed to
promote continental integration.
 
“As we celebrate the
Golden Jubilee of our organization,
we need to take stock
of our achievements and challenges
over the last 50 years
and chart out a way forward to
realize our vision of creating a
peaceful, democratic, prosperous
and united Africa, taking
its rightful place in the world.”
 
He said that, over the past
few decades, Africa has managed
to register robust economic
growth, attracting
“growing interest as a new
frontier for business and investment”
from many developed
and emerging economies
such as China.
 
“There is no doubt that
Africa needs to sustain the
growth momentum that it has
been able to achieve over the
last decade. This can only be
done if we manage to bring
about structural transformation,”
Dessalegn said.
 
The transformation includes
improvements in infrastructure,
increased regional trade,
progress in the smooth movement
of goods and services
across the continent and promotion
of peace and security.
 
AU Commission chairperson,
Nkosazana Dlamini-
Zuma concurred, saying after
50 years, Africa has now
found the right conditions to
advance socio-economic development
on the continent.
 
For example, she said six of
the world’s 10 fastest growing
economies are in Africa and
that the continent has been
growing at an average of five
percent per annum for more
than a decade despite the
global financial and economic
crisis.
 
Africa is also endowed with
rich natural resources, which
are crucial ingredients for
growth and development.
 
Furthermore, the continent
has a growing, vibrant, resourceful
and youthful population
which is being
equipped with critical skills
that will drive Africa’s transformation.
 
“These are critical components
in the industrial and
agricultural developmental
processes that should drive
economic growth, trade and
social transformation,”
Dlamini-Zuma said.
 
“We must therefore take
bold steps and fight for the
pride of place in the world, as
a global growth pole. We must
develop our narrative and
challenge conventional thinking
and paradigms.”
 
Benin President and outgoing
AU chair Boni Yayi, called
for greater cooperation between
the private sector and
national governments in Africa.
 
“The AU has never tapped
into the resource presented by
Africa’s private sector. It is
time to do that,” he said.
 
The celebrations to mark
the AU 50th anniversary will
be held on 25 May to coincide
with the date the OAU was
formed in 1963.
 
Ethiopia is expected to host
the main celebrations, which
will be held during the Ordinary
Session of the AU in the
same month.
 
The AU traditionally holds
summits twice a year – in January/
February and in June/July.
However, to accommodate the
50th anniversary celebration,
the second annual summit has
been moved to 25 May.


body:
Refocusing the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) to support
the transformation agenda of the AU, the summit urged
the Secretary-General of the United Nations to provide the required
support to ECA to enhance its work in accordance with
Africa’s priorities.

Creation of the African Observatory on Science, Technology and
Innovation (AOSTI), the summit endorsed the project, and urged
development partners to avail the necessary technical and financial
support for sustaining the AOSTI and its programmes.

Coordination of the Committee of African Heads of State and
Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) and Africa’s
preparation for the 19th Conference of the Parties to the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 19) in Poland,
the summit acknowledged the need to further refine and
streamline the coordination mechanism for CAHOSCC.

On the reduction of maternal, newborn and child mortality and
morbidity in Africa, the summit requested that the Ministers of
Health of the African Union examine the progress made regarding
the state of maternal, newborn and child health, map out
concrete and innovative strategies at a larger scale in order to
adequately address the health needs of African women and children
and submit a report to the 21st Ordinary Session of the AU
Assembly in Ethiopia.
 
 
The summit took note of the proposal by the Republic of Guinea
relating to the creation of a South-South and Triangular Coalition in
support of Africa’s post-2015 development agenda; it approved in
principle the creation of a South-South and Triangular Coalition.


body:
February 
11-14,
Mozambique

SADC Gender Ministers

Ministers responsible for Gender/Women’s Affairs meet
annually to consider policy issues and coordination for
international meetings, as well as to track progress on
ratification and implementation of the SADC Protocol
on Gender and Development.


18-22, Kenya

Governing Council of the Global Ministerial
Environment Forum

The council convenes annually to review existing and
emerging policy issues, as well as budgets. It aims to
promote international cooperation as well as provide
general policy guidance for the direction and coordination
of environmental programmes globally through
UNEP. This is the 27th session.
 


19-21,
Africa

South Africa Energy Indaba

The annual conference aims to explore ways in which
Africa can harness its huge energy resources to achieve
energy self-sufficiency.
 

20-23,
Zimbabwe

5th International Conference on ICT for Africa

The objective is to highlight the importance of South-
South collaboration between African countries and
other developing countries, and between African
countries and the industrialized countries towards ICT
advancement and development solutions.
 


27, Botswana

SADC Energy Thematic Group

The Energy Thematic Group is a coordination meeting
of cooperating partners, experts, SADC and its subsidiary
organizations to discuss ways of assisting the
region in tackling its energy challenges.
 

March
8-9, Mozambique

SADC Council of Ministers

The SADC Council of Ministers is responsible for supervising
and monitoring the functions and development
of SADC, and ensuring that policies are properly
implemented to advance regional integration. Council
is preceded by preparatory meetings of senior officials
which take place during the period 1-7 March.
 

8, Global

International Women’s Day

This is the day designated by the United Nations to commemorate
issues of equality of women with men, and
coincides with the 57th Session of the UN Commission
on the Status of Women held every year in early March.
The main CSW theme this year is “The Elimination and
the Prevention of all Forms of Violence against Women
and Girls” and a subsidiary theme “The Sharing of Responsibilities
between Women and Men, including in
Care Giving in the Contexts of HIV and AIDS”.
 

20, Mozambique

34th SAPP Executive Committee Meetings

The SAPP Executive Committee is composed of chief executives
of member power utilities. The committee acts
as the Board of SAPP and is responsible for the coordination
and formulation of the power pool’s objectives.
 

26-27,
South Africa

5th BRICS Summit

BRICS means Brazil, Russia, India, China and South
Africa. The leaders of these countries meet annually in
Summit to seek solutions to development challenges and
consider areas of collaboration for the BRICS economies.
 

April
15-17, Namibia

SADC Digital Broadcasting Migration Forum

SADC will meet to discuss and agree on activities that
would ensure that all member countries are ready for
digital broadcasting transition.


title:
In memory and honour of King Moshoeshoe I

Abstract:
MOSHOESHOE DAY is commemorated
in Lesotho on 11 March, the day on which
King Moshoeshoe I, founder of the Basotho
nation, is believed to have died in
1870. He became king 190 years ago, in
1823, and is regarded as a great diplomat
and leader who worked for the preservation
of his country’s language, art, and culture
through the Sesotho language.

body:
MOSHOESHOE DAY is commemorated
in Lesotho on 11 March, the day on which
King Moshoeshoe I, founder of the Basotho
nation, is believed to have died in
1870. He became king 190 years ago, in
1823, and is regarded as a great diplomat
and leader who worked for the preservation
of his country’s language, art, and culture
through the Sesotho language.
He was born in Menkhoaneng in 1786,
the son of Mokhachane, and was known as
Lepoqo, a name that marked the social
calamity of conflict that had erupted in his
community at the time he was born. He was
later known as Moshoeshoe, named after
the victory verse lyrics he composed after
raiding 500 cattle of nearby chief Moeletsi as
he imitated the scarping sound of the razor
“shoe-shoe-shoe” to portray his victory.
 
This was during the time when names
were significant tools through which major
national events could be documented and
safeguarded as lessons for future generations.
A significance of the day is to urge
Basotho to promote and preserve their
identity and language, as language serves
as a strong engine in defining the society.
 
During the Lifaqane wars, Moshoeshoe
and his people embarked on the great trek
from Menkhoaneng to Thaba Bosiu in
1824, a journey of nine days. Thaba Bosiu
means “mountain at night” and, according
to local belief, this high mountain plateau
elevated during the night and took the
shape of a high fortress, thus providing a
great defence during the various wars including
the third war against the Boer
farmers in Free State in 1868.
 
Thaba Bosiu is thus imbued with great
significance as the mountain is strongly associated
with the formation of the Basotho
nation. The grave of Moshoeshoe I on top
of the mountain contributes to the site’s
sanctity and this landscape was declared a
national monument in 1967 due to the intangible
cultural wealth.
 
This ancestral spot has both a symbolic
value and historical significance. Thus the
National Department of Culture is putting
efforts to ensure the area is awarded global
recognition, as it serves as a constant reminder
of who Basotho are and where they
were “manufactured and imagined” as a
nation, thus the birthplace of Lesotho, considered
sacred and a “faraway” land of
miracles and prophecy.
 
Moshoeshoe is commemorated for his
power and wisdom as he gave refuge to different
ethnic groups during the Lifaqane
wars and out of these communities he
“brewed” the Basotho. What made him outstanding
was his strong belief that in gaining
wisdom and power as a leader, one has to
first acquire qualities of clarity of mind,
goodness of heart and service to the people.
 
On this day in Lesotho, major symbolic
celebrations are held with the laying of
wreaths at the Moshoeshoe I statue, the
Moshoeshoe Memorial Lectures at the National
University of Lesotho, and a special
lecture for high school students at the
Lesotho National Library where
Moshoeshoe’s legacy and ideology are unpacked
in order to keep his memory
among young people vibrant. Traditional
performances showcasing Lesotho’s cultural
diversity and wealth of music and
dance is one of the pathways through
which his memory is kept alive.
 
The day’s events coincide with the
three-day annual heritage route from
Menkoaneng to Thaba Bosiu, in the footsteps
of this hero from his home place to
where he founded the nation called Basotho.
These memory initiatives are platforms
in which human beings come to
make sense of their identity and their relationship
with one another. Such commemorations
stamp the idea that culture is a
productive power that not only shapes
human concepts and impacts their behaviour,
but also contributes in no small measure
to the betterment of their material as
well as spiritual world.
 
This then poses a question to our leaders
with regard to making efforts to ensure
their names become educational memories
for the coming generations. What positive
traces do they leave behind in order to be
commemorated by generations to come?
What sketches do they leave to be celebrated
through music, memory, and heritage?
What legacies do they leave
archived locally and regionally for coming
generations, or has this calibre been destroyed
by the ideology of democracy?


Abstract:
THE NAME derives from Yuga Adi, “the beginning
of a new age”, and is New Year's Day for the people
of the Deccan region of India. It falls on a different
day every year because the Hindu calendar is lunisolar,
beginning with Chaitra (March–April), which is
the first month in the Indian calendar, Panchanga.

body:
THE NAME derives from Yuga Adi, “the beginning
of a new age”, and is New Year's Day for the people
of the Deccan region of India. It falls on a different
day every year because the Hindu calendar is lunisolar,
beginning with Chaitra (March–April), which is
the first month in the Indian calendar, Panchanga.
In Mauritius, this is a family event to reaffirm the
values and rites embedded in the culture. On that day,
the people of the Telegu community have a shower at
dawn with saffron and perfumed oil which is meant
to purify and forget all issues and misunderstandings
of the past year and to start afresh. Wearing new
clothes is the tradition as well as preparing the thoranam
composed of 18 mango leaves put at the entrance
of the house to bring positive energy. The
muggulu, made of flowers and coloured rice, is
sketched on the floor to represent harmony.
 
The eating of a specific mixture of six different
tastes, called Ugadi Pachhadi, symbolizes the fact that
life is a mixture of different experiences that should
be accepted together and with equanimity through
the New Year – sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust,
surprise. A prayer is done at home before proceeding
to the temple. The whole family gathers to
enjoy a traditional lunch, wishing one another “Ugadi
Subhakankshalu”.


title:
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN SADC February-April 2013

body:
1 February Abolition of Slavery Day Mauritius

3 February Heroes Day Mozambique

4 February Public Holiday Mozambique

4 February National Armed Struggle Day Angola

10 February Chinese Spring Festival Mauritius

12 February Carnival Day Angola
3 March Martyrs Day Malawi

4 March Public Holiday Malawi

8 March Women’s Day Angola, Zambia

10 March Maha Shivaratree Mauritius

11 March Moshoeshoe I Day Lesotho

12 March National Day Mauritius
Youth Day Zambia

21 March Independence Day Namibia
Human Rights Day South Africa

29 March Martyrs Day Madagascar
Good Friday All SADC except DRC,
Mauritius, Mozambique

30 March Public Holiday Botswana
Easter/Holy Saturday Seychelles, Zambia
1 April Easter Monday All SADC except Angola,
Mauritius, Mozambique

7 April Sheikh Abeid Karume Day Tanzania
Women’s Day Mozambique

8 April Public Holiday Mozambique

11 April Ougadi Mauritius

13 April Peace and Reconciliation Day Angola

18 April Independence Day Zimbabwe

19 April King’s Birthday Swaziland

25 April National Flag Day Swaziland

26 April Union Day Tanzania

27 April Freedom Day South Africa

30 April Youth Day DRC


title:
BRICS and Africa
Partnership for development

Abstract:
AS THE impetus to reconstruct global affairs
gathers pace, emerging economies and Africa
are now exploring new models and approaches
towards a more equitable and inclusive system
that promotes sustainable socio-economic development.

body:
AS THE impetus to reconstruct global affairs
gathers pace, emerging economies and Africa
are now exploring new models and approaches
towards a more equitable and inclusive system
that promotes sustainable socio-economic development.
Emerging economies, comprising Brazil,
Russia, India, China and South Africa (commonly
referred to as the BRICS) reaffirmed this
shared goal towards global development,
equality and cooperation during the 5th BRICS
Summit held in Durban, South Africa in late
March.
 
In a communiqué dubbed the “eThekwini
Declaration” released soon after the historic
summit -- which saw Africa make a maiden appearance
at the meeting – BRICS countries said
they are committed “to increasing our engagement
and cooperation” with Africa to unlock
potential for cooperation, as well as finding
lasting solutions to challenges facing developing
regions.
 
Noting that Africa faces challenges of infrastructure
development due to insufficient longterm
financing and foreign direct investment,
especially investment in capital stock, BRICS
countries decided to establish a development
bank to contribute towards infrastructure development
in Africa.
 
Infrastructure development is critical for
the realization of the African integration and
industrialization agenda.
 
“In March 2012 we directed our finance ministers
to examine the feasibility and viability of
setting up a new development bank for mobilizing
resources for infrastructure and sustainable
development projects in BRICS and other emerging
economies and developing countries, to supplement
the existing efforts of multilateral and
regional financial institutions for global growth
and development,” BRICS leaders said in a
statement.
 
“Following the report from our finance
ministers, we are satisfied that the establishment
of a new development bank is feasible
and viable. We have agreed to establish the
new development bank.”
 
Although the location and other details of
the bank are yet to be finalized, the leaders said
that the initial contribution to the bank would
be substantial and sufficient for the bank to be
effective in financing infrastructure.
 
South African President Jacob Zuma, who is
the new BRICS chairperson, welcomed the move
to establish the bank, saying it can help forge a
new funding model for Africa in which projects
spanning a number of countries are favoured for
finance.
 
He said the major constraint
for funding infrastructure
in Africa was that most
international financial institutions
were often biased towards
funding projects in
single countries, rather than
those spread across a number
of countries.
 
“The BRICS process could
lead to a funding model that
promotes more multi-country
projects and accelerates the
pace of regional integration,”
he said, adding that Africa
should take advantage of this
facility to boost trade and
deepen integration.
 
The establishment of a
BRICS development bank is
expected to provide major relief
to most African countries,
considering that the continent
has gained little from other international
financial institutions
such as the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and
World Bank (WB) due to a
number of factors, among
them stringent lending conditions
as well as piecemeal
funding packages.
 
Therefore, rather than wait
for the reforms of existing
multilateral financial institutions,
BRICS countries have
decided to act and establish a
development bank to promote
socio-economic growth in developing
regions, thus reshaping
global affairs.
 
Nevertheless, BRICS has
reiterated its call for the reform
of international financial
institutions to make them
more representative and to reflect
the growing weight of
BRICS and other developing
countries in global affairs.
 
“The reform of the International
Monetary Fund
should strengthen the voice
and representation of the
poorest members of the IMF,
including Sub-Saharan
Africa,” BRICS said, adding
that the leadership selection
should be through an open,
transparent and merit-based
process and truly open to
candidates from emerging
market economies and developing
countries.
 
On the selection of a new
World Trade Organization
(WTO) director-general,
BRICS said the post should be
filled by a candidate from a
developing country.
 
Since the formation of
these institutions, the top
posts have never been occupied
by a candidate from a developing
country, raising
suspicion that the institutions
are meant to serve a few selected
countries at the expense
of the majority.
 
With regard to global politics,
BRICS reaffirmed the
need for a comprehensive reform
of the United Nations Security
Council, with a view to
making it more representative,
effective and efficient, so that
it can be more responsive to
global challenges.
 
The UN Security Council
has been accused of “living in
the past” and “treating countries
differently”, hence the
call for urgent changes at the
council to make it more democratic
and credible.
 
The council, whose primarily
responsibility is to maintain
international peace and
security, is made up of five
permanent members as well
as 10 non-permanent members
who hold the seats for
two-year terms.
 
The five permanent members
are China, France, Russia,
the United Kingdom and the
United States. The other members
at present are Argentina,
Azerbaijan, Australia, Guatemala,
Luxembourg, Morocco,
Pakistan, Republic of Korea,
Rwanda and Togo.
 
Under the UN Charter, all
members of the UN agree to accept
and carry out the decisions
by the council, and while all
other organs of the UN make
recommendations to governments,
the council alone has the
power to take decisions which
member states are obligated to
carry out.
 
It is this kind of set-up that
most developing countries are
against and want reviewed to
ensure equality. For example,
they want a permanent seat
reserved for developing countries.
 
With respect to climate
change, BRICS made a commitment
to work with Africa
and other stakeholders to ensure
a global agreement is
reached by 2015.
 
Climate change talks are
ongoing, albeit with challenges
as most developed nations
are not willing to fulfil
their pledges, especially on increasing
finance to developing
countries and cutting down on
green house gas emissions
that cause climate change.
 
Developing countries,
particularly in Africa, are
worst affected by climate
change due to limited resources,
yet they are the least
contributors of green house
gas emissions.
 
On the internationally
agreed development goals, including
the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs),
BRICS said “Africa and other
developing countries of the
South, cannot achieve the
MDGs on their own and therefore
the centrality of Goal 8 on
Global Partnerships for Development
to achieve the MDGs
should remain at the core of
the global development discourse
for the UN System.”
 
Furthermore, the summit
urged stakeholders to accelerate
the implementation
progress to ensure the 2015
target is met.
 
“In this regard, we stress
that the development agenda
beyond 2015 should build on
the MDG framework, keeping
the focus on poverty eradication
and human development,
while addressing emerging
challenges of development
taking into consideration individual
national circumstances
of developing countries.”
 
The 5th BRICS Summit
was held on 27 March under
the overarching theme,
“BRICS and Africa: Partnership
for Development, Integration
and Industrialization”.
 
Brazil will host the 6th
BRICS Summit in 2014 following
the conclusion of the first
cycle of BRICS Summits,
where each member has
hosted a summit.
 
The BRICS mechanism
aims to achieve peace, security,
development and cooperation.
It also seeks to
contribute significantly to the
development of humanity and
establish a more equitable and
fair world.


body:
THE BRICS Summit has agreed to expand its areas of cooperation
to include:
BRICS Public Diplomacy Forum

BRICS Anti-Corruption Cooperation

BRICS State Owned Companies / State Owned Enterprises

National Agencies Responsible for Drug Control

BRICS Virtual Secretariat

BRICS Youth Policy Dialogue

Tourism

Energy

Sports and Mega Sporting Events.


Abstract:
THE SADC Secretariat has
completed an institutional capacity
building exercise that
has seen the organization
meeting international benchmarks
for good practice in accounting,
audit, internal
controls and procurement.

body:
THE SADC Secretariat has
completed an institutional capacity
building exercise that
has seen the organization
meeting international benchmarks
for good practice in accounting,
audit, internal
controls and procurement.
This achievement was
made possible by a focused reform
process, assisted by a
major European Union (EU)-
funded capacity-building programme
and support from the
German government through
the German Society for International
Cooperation (GIZ).
 
Following several years of
intensive work on improving its
institutional capacity, the SADC
Secretariat was officially recognized
in December 2012 as having
international standards in
accounting, audit, internal controls
and procurement.
 
From 2010 to 2012, the
SADC Secretariat worked on
adopting new financial management
and reporting practices
to strengthen its financial
functions and provide improved
transparency and accountability.
 
Reforms included revision
of the Internal Audit Charter,
development of Terms of Reference
for external audit of the
Secretariat, and development
of a new Enterprise Risk Management
Policy and a new Enterprise
Risk Management
Framework.
 
The new regulations approved
by the Council of Ministers
in August 2012, will
ensure improved financial
management and good corporate
governance through transparency,
accountability and
sound financial controls.
 
The reforms also saw the
introduction of results-based
management culture within
the SADC Secretariat.
 
These changes have created
a stable organizational
platform, which has strengthened
SADC’s decision-making
processes for priority setting,
resource allocation and programme
management – all of
which support the regional integration
objectives of SADC.
 
Achieving this status has
allowed SADC to enter into
direct contribution agreements
with the EU amounting
to €50 million to support
southern Africa’s regional integration
process.
 
This kind of arrangement,
under Contribution Agreements,
enables the EU to provide 
more direct and flexible
financial support to SADC.
 
Between 2013 and 2015,
the EU-funded institutional
capacity development programme
will reinforce the
process of maintaining institutional
compliance.
 
The programme will also
address the key factors of
leadership, management and
performance management to
further strengthen SADC Secretariat's
institutional capacity.
 
Through GIZ, Germany
will between 2013 and 2016
focus on strengthening the linkages
between SADC Secretariat
and Member States, and support
efforts for increased policy
dialogue between the regional
stakeholders.


body:
THE EU has committed €84 million to SADC under the 10th
European Development Fund (EDF10) programme, of which
€50 million will be funded through the following Contribution
Agreements:
Regional Political Co-operation, €18 million;

Regional Economic Integration Support, €20 million; and

Project Preparation and Development Facility, €12 million.
The EU and Germany will continue to support the organizational
development and change management process in SADC
through the following activities:

Development of a “think tank” with the capacity to advise
and guide Member States on the implementation of the
SADC Common Agenda;

Recruitment of a principal regional co-ordinator of policies,
strategies and programmes of the regional integration
process;

Provision of support services to facilitate legal, administrative,
financial and procurement services to technical SADC
directorates, and convening annual consultative conferences
and meetings of the SADC decision-making structures; and

Recruitment of a professional programme manager to plan
and budget, facilitate the implementation process, monitor
prioritised programmes, and report on progress in co-ordination
and co-operation with SADC stakeholders.


By meeting these standards and achieving this status, SADC
is now eligible to receive and manage packages of financial assistance
using its own internal systems and controls.


title:
Elections for SADC Executive
Secretary begin

Abstract:
THE PROCESS to elect the
new SADC executive secretary
and the deputy has commenced,
with at least two
countries submitting their candidates
for ES.

body:
THE PROCESS to elect the
new SADC executive secretary
and the deputy has commenced,
with at least two
countries submitting their candidates
for ES.
Speaking after the Council
of Ministers meeting held in
Mozambique in March, Angolan
Foreign Minister,
Georges Chikoti said the deadline
for applications had already
closed and the process of
consultations and lobbying
among Member States had
started.
 
He noted that several candidates
had submitted applications
for the two top posts at
the SADC Secretariat.
 
The term for the incumbent
Executive Secretary, Tomaz Salomão,
is due to end later this
year.
 
Salomão has held the maximum
two four-year terms since
his appointment by the Summit
of Heads of State and Government
in August 2005. His
term was renewed in 2009 at
the Summit held in the Democratic
Republic of Congo.


title:
Council approves SADC budget, action plan for 2013/14

Abstract:
THE SADC Council of Ministers
has approved the budget
and action plan of the organization
for 2013/14.

body:
THE SADC Council of Ministers
has approved the budget
and action plan of the organization
for 2013/14.
According to an announcement
by Council chairperson
and Mozambican
Foreign Minister, Oldemiro
Baloi, the SADC budget for
the next year is estimated at
US$65 million.
 
The budget is to be financed
by the countries membership
fees (US$33.7 million)
and by International Cooperating
Partners who are expected
to pick up US$31.3
million of the expenditure.
 
Council noted that the current
costs structure of SADC is
not sustainable due to increasing
demand between the fixed
costs related to the day-to-day
running of the Secretariat and
the investment costs regarding
the programmes and projects
on economic integration.


title:
Chirundu One-Stop Border Post
Benchmark for regional integration and trade facilitation

Abstract:
THE CHIRUNDU one-stop
border post between Zambia
and Zimbabwe is a practical
example of how southern
Africa can deepen integration
and promote regional trade.

body:
THE CHIRUNDU one-stop
border post between Zambia
and Zimbabwe is a practical
example of how southern
Africa can deepen integration
and promote regional trade.
Formally launched in November
2009 as a pilot phase of
the one-stop border initiative,
the Chirundu border post has
significantly promoted the
smooth movement of goods
and persons across the region.
 
According to the Zambian
Ministry of Commerce, traffic
at Chirundu has more than
doubled between 2009 and
2012.
 
Permanent Secretary
Stephen Mwansa said clearance
time for haulage trucks
has been reduced from about
six days to less than 24 hours.
 
Clearance of passengers now
takes less than five minutes
from an estimated one hour
previously.
 
He said reduction of clearance
time is critical in keeping
the cost of goods down since
most transporters usually pass
on the extra charges to customers.
 
“About 95 percent of the
volume of cargo transported in
the region is by road, and the
typical charge for a stationary
truck is between US$200 to
US$400 a day,” he said.
 
“Therefore, if a truck takes
three days to clear at the border,
the transporter will pass
on an additional cost of between
US$600 to US$1,200 for
the cost of the truck sitting idle
at the border to the importer.”
 
The African Development
Bank (AfDB) has hailed the
Chirundu one-stop border
post as a benchmark for other
regions, adding that southern
Africa and the rest of Africa
should adopt similar facilities
to boost trade in the continent,
which has been hindered by
bureaucracy at entry and exit
points.
 
In its report entitled “Border
Posts, Checkpoints, and
Intra-African Trade: Challenges
and Solutions”, the
AfDB says the one-stop border
concept has been impressive in
promoting regional trade
through the removal of both
tariff and non-tariff barriers at
the border.
 
“Now, northbound trucks
are checked and cleared only
on the Zambian side, and
southbound trucks are
processed on the Zimbabwean
side,” the report said.
 
AfDB said bureaucracy and
long delays have continued to
hold back trade and economic
growth in Africa.
 
“In Africa, the average customs
transaction involves 20 to
30 different parties, 40 documents,
200 data elements, 30 of
which are repeated at least 30
times, and the rekeying of 60 to
70 percent of all data at least
once.”
 
The report states that these
lengthy procedures could be cut
by bringing in automated systems
for document checking.
 
“Also, time and money
could be saved by not duplicating
the process on both
sides of the border. Border
checkpoints are overstretched,
resulting in long delays. A container
or truck can wait up to
three days to cross a border in
Africa.”
 
Under the one-stop border
post concept, travellers are
cleared just once for passage
into another country in contrast
with the current situation
where travellers have to complete
immigration and customs
formalities on both sides
of the border.
 
The Chirundu border post is
one of the pilot projects under
the North-South Corridor initiative
being jointly implemented
by SADC, the Common
Market for Eastern and Southern
Africa (COMESA) and East
African Community (EAC).
 
In the long run, the project
seeks to harmonize customs
and immigration laws at border
posts within the three regional
economic communities.
 
Other ports of entry identified
for implementation of this
concept include the Beitbridge
border post between South
Africa and Zimbabwe, and the
Kasumbalesa border post between
Zambia and the Democratic
Republic of Congo.
 
Beitbridge and Chirundu
are considered to be among
sub-Saharan Africa’s busiest
border crossings with hundreds
of southward or northward
commercial trucks
passing through the two border
posts every day.
 
Under the North-South
Corridor initiative, COMESAEAC-
SADC have identified
border post refurbishment as
one of the initiatives to improve
infrastructure and increase
intra-regional trade in
eastern and southern Africa.
 
More than US$1.2 billion
has been raised as initial funding
to implement the North-
South Corridor project, which
traverses eight countries in
eastern and southern Africa.
 
The North-South Corridor
(also known as the Durban
Corridor) is the most extensive
corridor in the region, linking
the largest number of countries
in eastern and southern
Africa.
 
It interlinks to other corridors
including the Trans-Kalahari,
Beira, Lobito, Dar es
Salaam and Nacala corridors.
 
This corridor is critical because
South Africa is the
largest African trading partner
for most of the countries in the
region and the port of Durban
handles a significant portion of
transit traffic for the landlocked
states.
 
Planned programmes include
the construction of more
than 8,000 kilometres of road,
rehabilitation of 600km of rail
track and upgrading of the Dar
es Salaam port in the United Republic
of Tanzania – one of the
biggest and busiest ports in
Africa.


title:
SADC infrastructure conference set for June

Abstract:
THE SADC infrastructure sector
is preparing to attract vital
investment at a high-level conference
of investors scheduled
for June in Maputo, Mozambique.

body:
THE SADC infrastructure sector
is preparing to attract vital
investment at a high-level conference
of investors scheduled
for June in Maputo, Mozambique.
The infrastructure conference
is part of a number of initiatives
by the SADC Secretariat
to lure potential investors to
southern Africa in line with the
recently launched SADC Regional
Infrastructure Development
Master Plan 2012-2027.
 
At the Maputo investment
conference, SADC is expected
to showcase its portfolio of 418
infrastructure projects in the six
priority areas of energy, transport,
information communication
technology, tourism,
meteorology and water.
 
These include the proposed
Mphanda Nkuwa hydro power
project in Mozambique, development
of a traffic management
programme in the Seychellois
capital Victoria and construction
of Kazungula Bridge linking
Botswana and Zambia, and
development of SADC regional
and national integrated broadband
infrastructure.
 
More conferences of investors
and road shows are
planned for Asia, the United
States and some European
countries later this year to lure
investment to southern Africa.
 
The infrastructure master
plan is an ambitious programme
to develop cross-border
infrastructure. It is the
framework for planning and
cooperation among Member
States and with development
partners and the private sector.
Estimated to cost US$500 billion,
the SADC master plan
will be implemented over
three five-year intervals – short
term (2012-2017), medium
term (2017-2022) and long
term (2022-2027).
 
The master plan will guide
implementation of coordinated,
integrated, efficient, transboundary
infrastructure networks
in the six priority sectors.
 
In the energy sector, the
plan will address four key
areas of energy security, improving
access to modern energy
services, tapping the
abundant energy resources
and increasing financial investment
whilst enhancing environmental
sustainability.
 
Regarding the sub-sectors
of road, rail, ports, inland waterways
and air transport networks,
the Transport Sector
Plan will address four key
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.
 
The Information Communication
Technology (ICT) Sector
Plan is designed to address
four key areas: ensuring accessibility,
including universal access
to broadband ICT
technologies; accelerating regional
integration through
broadband interconnectivity
within and among SADC
member states; reducing the
cost of doing business; and improving
reliability and security
of ICT infrastructure.
 
The Water Sector Plan prioritizes
five goals, which include
increasing the overall
water storage in the region; irrigated
land for food security;
hydropower generation for energy 
security; increasing access
to safe drinking water; and enhancing
sanitation services.
 
The Tourism Sector Plan is
geared towards achieving enhanced
socio-economic development;
facilitating joint
marketing of SADC as a single
destination; increasing tourism
arrivals and tourism receipts
from source markets; and developing
the tourism sector in
an environmentally sustainable
manner.
 
Emphasis for the Meteorology
Sector Plan is put on the
need to ensure the availability
of timely early warning information
relating to adverse
weather and climate variability
impacts.


title:
Integrated transport plan for Lobito Corridor

Abstract:
ANGOLA, THE Democratic
Republic of Congo and Zambia
have agreed to develop an
integrated plan for the rehabilitation,
maintenance and operation
of the railways network
of Lobito Corridor in a bid to
deepen integration and boost
regional trade.

body:
ANGOLA, THE Democratic
Republic of Congo and Zambia
have agreed to develop an
integrated plan for the rehabilitation,
maintenance and operation
of the railways network
of Lobito Corridor in a bid to
deepen integration and boost
regional trade.
The decision was made during
the inaugural meeting of
ministers in charge of transport
in the three countries, which
was held in Luanda, Angola, in
March.
 
The railway network of the
Lobito Corridor integrates the
systems of Benguela Railways,
Societé National de Chemin de
Ferre of DRC and Zambia Railways.
 
The integrated plan aims to
provide the shortest and most
effective railway transport line
from the port in Angola to the
DRC and Zambia.
 
The three countries also
agreed to cooperate in the rehabilitation,
maintenance and
management of road infrastructure
network along the
corridor.
 
This move is aimed at creating
a road network to promote
the smooth movement of
goods, services and people
across the three countries.


Abstract:
MALAWI HAS received a US$3
million grant from the African
Development Bank (AfDB) to finance
feasibility studies for the
proposed Kholombidzo Hydroelectric
Power Plant.

body:
MALAWI HAS received a US$3
million grant from the African
Development Bank (AfDB) to finance
feasibility studies for the
proposed Kholombidzo Hydroelectric
Power Plant.
The grant aims to produce a
bankable feasibility study for
the development of the power
generation project on the Shire
River, which is expected to contribute
to the expansion of electricity
generating capacity in
Malawi and the SADC region.
 
The total cost of the feasibility
studies is estimated at
US$3.27 million, with the
Malawian government contributing
the balance of
US$230,000.


title:
Zambezi River Basin
Transfrontier parks key to management of natural resources

Abstract:
THE ESTABLISHMENT of
transfrontier conservation
areas is one of the key initiatives
for the sustainable
management of natural resources
in the Zambezi
River Basin.

body:
THE ESTABLISHMENT of
transfrontier conservation
areas is one of the key initiatives
for the sustainable
management of natural resources
in the Zambezi
River Basin.
The eight countries in
the Zambezi basin rely
heavily on the exploitation
of natural resources and the
environment for their
economies, and are thus
taking steps to harmonise
strategies for proper management
of natural resources,
many of which are shared.
 
According to a new publication,
the Zambezi River Basin
Atlas of the Changing Environment,
six Transfrontier Conservation
Areas (TFCAs) are at
different stages of development
within the Zambezi
basin.
 
The Atlas reports that
some Memoranda of Understanding
have been signed to
facilitate the establishment of
the TFCAs, while other agreements
are still at the conceptual
stage.
 
Those with MoUs are the
Malawi-Zambia TFCA, as well
as the Kavango-Zambezi
(KAZA) TFCA involving Angola,
Botswana, Namibia,
Zambia and Zimbabwe.
 
The joint venture by the
tourism authorities covers the
management of cultural heritage
of local communities,
hunting and fishing, and
wildlife conservation.
 
KAZA is the world’s
largest transfrontier park and
was launched in March 2012
by environment ministers
from the five countries.
 
The historic launch followed
the signing of the treaty
by the Heads of State and
Government of the respective
countries in August 2011.
 
Situated in the Okavango
and Zambezi river basins
where the borders of the five
countries converge, the KAZA
TFCA covers an area of about
444,000 square kilometres. It
consists of 36 national parks,
game reserves, community
conservancies and game management
areas.
 
The conservation area
boasts of numerous tourist attractions
such as the Victoria
Falls between Zambia and
Zimbabwe, San rock paintings
in Botswana and the absorbing
wildlife population in the
region.
 
This high concentration of
attractions is expected to create
an entirely new assortment
of tourism opportunities in
southern Africa, presenting
new opportunities for socioeconomic
development in the
Southern African Development
Community (SADC), resulting
in deeper integration
among member states.
 
It would also allow participating
countries to jointly
market their attractions, presenting
prospective tourists
with a wide range of opportunities
and experiences.
 
The KAZA partner countries
have identified tourism
as one of the key drivers for
socio-economic development
in the region due to its strong
multiplier effects and are determined
to accelerate growth
of the tourism industry in the
region.
 
The development of the
KAZA is receiving support
from various development
partners, with the German
Federal Ministry for Economic
Cooperation and
Development (BMZ) contributing
about €15.5 million
towards its successful development
in March 2013.
 
The launch of the KAZA is
now a benchmark for other
countries in the basin and the
rest of southern Africa to emulate
in a bid to deepen integration
and promote
development in the region.
 
The tourism authorities of
Zimbabwe, Mozambique and
Zambia reached an agreement
in 2009 to establish the ZIMOZA
TFCA.
 
Other proposed transfrontier
parks in the Zambezi
basin are the Liuwa Plains-
Mussuma TFCA involving
Angola and Zambia, and the
Selous-Niassa TFCA involving
Mozambique and Tanzania.
 
The Liuwa Plains-Mussuma
TFCA is home to the
largest migratory population
of blue wildebeest in
the miombo ecosystem in
Africa.
 
Every year massive
herds of blue wildebeest
migrate from Zambia to Angola
and back again, traversing
the plains in their
thousands and very often
mingling with zebra along
the way.
 
The governments of
Angola and Zambia are
working towards formalising
the TFCA.
 
The establishment of
TFCAs is founded on the
SADC ideals articulated in the
Protocol on Wildlife Conservation
and Law Enforcement
of 1999, which commits member
states to “promote the conservation
of shared wildlife
resources through the establishment
of trans frontier conservation
areas”.
 
The Zambezi River Basin
Atlas of the Changing Environment,
the first of its kind in the
basin and southern Africa, is a
collaborative initiative with
the objective of providing scientific
evidence about changes
that are taking place in the
natural resources and the environment.
 
The Atlas was produced
for SADC, the Zambezi
Watercourse Commission
(ZAMCOM), and Zambezi
River Basin stakeholders, by
the Southern African Research
and Documentation
Centre (SARDC) through
its environment institute, the
I. Musokotwane Environment
Resource Centre for
Southern Africa (IMERCSA)
and GRID-Arendal, both
collaborating centres of
the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP).
sardc.net


title:
SAPP to commission 2,000MW to regional grid in 2013

Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICA expects
to commission projects
that will add about 2,000
megawatts (MW) of electricity
to the regional grid this year.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICA expects
to commission projects
that will add about 2,000
megawatts (MW) of electricity
to the regional grid this year.
The Southern African
Power Pool (SAPP), which coordinates
the planning, generation,
transmission and
marketing of electricity on behalf
of Member State utilities
in the SADC region, said the
bulk of the new electricity, will
come from South Africa and
Botswana.
 
Speaking at a SADC Energy
Thematic Group meeting
held in Gaborone, Botswana,
in late February, SAPP Coordination
Centre Manager
Lawrence Musaba said South
Africa’s Eskom will weigh in
with 923 MW, while the
Botswana Power Company
will add a total of 600 MW.
 
The power from South
Africa is expected to come
from Medupi thermal station,
Komati thermal station and
another solar energy project,
which is underway in the
country. (See table below)
Medupi will contribute
722 MW, Komati 101 MW,
while the remaining 100 MW
will come from the solar energy
project.
 
The new power in
Botswana is expected to come
from the Morupela B thermal
project that is already under
construction.
 
Zambia's Zesco will add
180 MW from its Kariba
North hydro plan, while independent
power producers
in Namibia and Malawi will
add 60 MW and 60 MW respectively
to the regional
grid.
 
The power from Namibia
will be harnessed from wind,
while that from Malawi will
come from hydro.
 
Independent power producers
in the United Republic
of Tanzania and Zambia will
also add about 60 MW and 50
MW respectively. Tanzania’s
power will be from gas, and
Zambia’s from Ndola Energy.
 
The Democratic Republic
of Congo’s SNEL will weigh in
with 55 MW from the rehabilitation
of Inga Dam project.
 
This new power is expected
to help the SADC region
boost its supplies as well
as partially meet its growing
demand.
 
In the year 2012, SAPP
was able to add a total of
1,031 MW. Next year, the regional
power pool is expected
to commission
projects that will add about
4,620 MW.


Abstract:
THE REGIONAL Electricity
Regulators Association of
Southern Africa (RERA) is developing
a five-year strategic
plan that will result in the
crafting of energy regulatory
frameworks and facilitating
the creation of a viable regional
energy market by 2017.

body:
THE REGIONAL Electricity
Regulators Association of
Southern Africa (RERA) is developing
a five-year strategic
plan that will result in the
crafting of energy regulatory
frameworks and facilitating
the creation of a viable regional
energy market by 2017.
The strategic plan for 2013-
2017 will aim to develop energy
regulatory frameworks,
instruments and methods to
promote regional integration
and harmonization. This is expected
to facilitate the development
of a viable regional
energy market in SADC.
 
There are also plans to develop
the capacity of existing
energy and electricity regulators
in the region.
 
This will include advocating
for the establishment of
autonomous national regulators
in the region and developing
a knowledge pool of
information on the energy sector.
 
RERA is presently made up
of 10 regulatory bodies from
Angola, Lesotho, Malawi,
Mozambique, Namibia, South
Africa, Swaziland, United Republic
of Tanzania, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.
 
Botswana, the Democratic
Republic of Congo, Mauritius
and Seychelles do not have energy
regulators and are at various
stages of energy sector
reforms.
 
The Office for Electricity
Regulation (ORE) of Madagascar
is not yet a member of
RERA.
 
Four of the existing RERA
members are electricity regulators,
five are energy regulators
and two are multi-sector
(energy/water) regulators.
 
The plan envisages the
promotion of universal access
to modern energy services by
facilitating the development of
energy infrastructure for
under-served countries and
encouraging the migration towards
cost-reflective charges,
but also paying attention to
low-income population.
 
In addition, there are plans
to position RERA to proactively
influence developments
in the SADC energy sector.
 
This will involve, among other
things, transforming the organization
from an electricity
to an energy regulators’ association
as well as enhancing
stakeholder communication
and advocacy.
 
The strategic plan with details
of specific initiatives under
each of the strategic objectives
will be distributed to cooperating
partners and other stakeholders
as soon as it is formally
approved by the RERA Executive
Committee at its first meeting
later this year.


title:
Day Ahead Market – Regional energy trading gains momentum
Competitive electricity market allows member states to buy and sell

Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICA continues
to make significant
progress towards achieving a
sustainable and competitive
electricity market that allows
member countries to easily
sell and buy electricity from
each other.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICA continues
to make significant
progress towards achieving a
sustainable and competitive
electricity market that allows
member countries to easily
sell and buy electricity from
each other.
The competitive electricity
market, commonly known as
the Day Ahead Market
(DAM), was commissioned
in December 2009 and is administered
by the Southern
African Power Pool (SAPP).
 
SAPP is a regional body
that coordinates the planning,
generation, transmission and
marketing of electricity on behalf
of Member State utilities
in southern Africa.
 
All 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 sell electricity to one another
through a competitive
market.
 
SAPP chief market analyst
Musara Beta said, in an interview
with this publication,
that the DAM has allowed
member utilities to have a
wider choice in energy trading,
particularly in terms of
determining the price of electricity.
 
The DAM – which is the
first competitive electricity
market in Africa – is conducted
prior to the commencement
of each day. Forward
contracts are
established for each hour of
the coming day.
 
The DAM sets prices as of
11am the previous day, thus
the term “day ahead”, based
on generation and energy
transaction bids that are offered
in advance to the SAPP.
 
DAM prices are determined
on an hourly basis for
each of the power pool’s operating
members.
 
This, therefore, means that
the seller will only sell their
electricity at a price they have
set or even higher since there
are some buyers who would
have expressed bids for the
same quantity at a higher
rate.
 
On the other hand, the
buyer can also only buy the
electricity at their desired
price or even less as some
sellers will be selling the same
quantity of electricity at a
lower rate.
 
“Those (utilities) that are
participating in the competitive
market have realized
huge financial rewards,” Beta
said, adding that in the DAM
there is no manipulation of
prices as both the seller and
buyer offer what they can
only afford.
 
As of February 2013, the
number of active participants
on the DAM increased to six
utilities from four in January
2013. More utilities have expressed
interest to come on
board, according to SAPP.
 
“The challenge is that energy
trading in most SADC
countries is regulated,” Beta
said, adding this is affecting
active participation by all
member utilities.
 
Another challenge is that
the DAM has come at a time
when most countries are facing
a shortfall in energy supplies,
hence the energy trading
market is viewed as
insecure.
 
“Despite all these challenges,
we are still happy
with the way the competitive
market is progressing,” he
said.
 
He said since the launch of
the competitive market in
2009, SAPP has managed to
conclude bids amounting to
216 Gigawatts (GW).
 
However, of these total
bids, only about 60.8 GW was
moved from seller to buyer
due to various constraints,
chief among them the lack of
transmission paths as well as
congested transmission corridors.
 
“All the concluded volumes
could not go through,
which just goes to show how
serious transmission constraints
are affecting trade on
the DAM,” Beta said.
 
“The potential to trade in
the DAM is there but the current
transmission capacity is
not allowing member countries
to fully exploit the competitive
market. The problem
is not with the market but
with the system.”
 
In this regard, he said
SAPP was working on implementing
energy generation
projects to boost energy production
in the region.
 
Plans are also underway to
build more transmission interconnections
across the borders
of member state,
particularly to connect the
unlinked three member countries
– Angola, Malawi and
Tanzania – to the regional
power grid.
 
Fuller integration on the
SAPP grid would ensure
that any new generation capacity
installed in any of the
three countries is also realized
by the nine other SAPP
members, namely Botswana,
the Democratic Republic of
Congo, Lesotho, Mozambique,
Namibia, Swaziland,
South Africa, Zambia and
Zimbabwe.
 
Such a situation would,
therefore, boost the regional
competitive electricity market,
allowing member countries
to easily sell and buy
surplus electricity from each
other.
 
“We are working hard to
link all the member utilities to
the regional grid to promote
the sharing of surplus energy
on the DAM,” he said.
 
The DAM also has other
numerous benefits, including
the capacity to open up the
energy sector to new players
and investments.
 
Lack of investment in the
energy sector has been identified
as one of the main factors
that have contributed
towards the current power
deficit in southern Africa.
 
“We might be experiencing
some challenges with regard
to the competitive
market, but we will not give
up. We will soon get there,”
Beta said.


title:
Major boost for the regional energy competitive market
…as SAPP, Norwaysign agreement to support DAM

Abstract:
THE REGIONAL competitive
electricity market is expected
to record some
significant improvement following
the signing of a
three-year agreement between
Norway and the
Southern African Power
Pool to support the energy
trading market.

body:
THE REGIONAL competitive
electricity market is expected
to record some
significant improvement following
the signing of a
three-year agreement between
Norway and the
Southern African Power
Pool to support the energy
trading market.
The agreement, jointly
funded by Norway and Sweden,
is worth NOK35.25 million
(about US$6.14 million)
and covers various activities,
including implementation of
the regional competitive
electricity market as well as
capacity-building and software
issues regarding energy
trading.
 
Other activities such as
the implementation of energy
generation projects to
boost production in the region,
and building more
transmission interconnections
will also be covered
under this agreement. The
project will run from January
2013 to February 2016.
 
The competitive electricity
market, commonly
known as the Day Ahead
Market (DAM), allows SAPP
member utilities to sell surplus
electricity to others, and
meet shortfalls through purchases
from others.
 
It is administered by the
SAPP Coordination Centre
in Harare, Zimbabwe.
SAPP is a regional body
that coordinates the planning,
generation, transmission
and marketing of
electricity on behalf of member
state utilities in southern
Africa.
 
The agreement was
signed on 27 February in
Gaborone, Botswana, by
Lawrence Musaba, SAPP
Coordination Centre
Manager and Tove Bruvik
Westberg, Ambassador
of Norway to Mozambique.
The signing ceremony
was witnessed by members
of the SADC Energy
Thematic Group who
met earlier the same
day.


title:
Countries adopt RERA cross-border
guidelines

Abstract:
SEVEN SADC Member
States have adopted common
guidelines governing
cross-border power trading.
The guidelines for national
regulators were developed
by the Regional Electricity
Regulators Association of
Southern Africa (RERA),
and adopted by SADC Energy
Ministers in 2010.

body:
SEVEN SADC Member
States have adopted common
guidelines governing
cross-border power trading.
The guidelines for national
regulators were developed
by the Regional Electricity
Regulators Association of
Southern Africa (RERA),
and adopted by SADC Energy
Ministers in 2010.
The RERA Guidelines on
Cross Border Power Trading
in Southern Africa aim to
provide an enabling framework
for cross-border trade
and investment in infrastructure
that will reduce
some of the uncertainties deterring
investment and undermining
efforts to
improve security of supply
through cross-border trading.
 
They represent the first
concrete step to harmonising
national regulatory systems
and encouraging large crossborder
transactions by ensuring
that regulatory
arrangements in the region
are compatible.
 
There are a large number
of proposed cross-border
generation and transmission
projects in southern Africa
that are not moving forward
due to regulatory constraints,
despite being technically
and economically
feasible.
 
In most SADC countries,
authorities responsible for
regulating cross-border trading
are the national electricity 
regulators, which have
powers to make decisions on
tariffs, licensing and service
standards. However, energy
ministers in most SADC
Member States also retain
some decision-making powers.
 
RERA members that have
adopted the guidelines for
implementation are the regulatory
bodies of Lesotho,
Malawi, Mozambique,
Namibia, South Africa,
United Republic of Tanzania,
and Zambia.
 
A number of other SADC
Member States including
Botswana, Madagascar and
Swaziland are in the process
of establishing separate regulators.
 
The RERA regulatory
guidelines focus on the decisions
affecting cross-border
trading, regardless of
whether the decision-maker
is an independent agency or
the government.
 
The aim of the guidelines,
written in the form of principles,
rules and procedures, is
to ensure that efficient crossborder
deals are not constrained
by unclear or
complicated processes for
making decisions.
 
The guidelines do not
have a formal legal status
over the decisions of individual
national regulators.
 
In order to have legal effect,
national regulators will need
to implement the guidelines
in their own countries.


title:
COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite FTA negotiations on course

Abstract:
THE TRIPARTITE Trade Negotiation
Forum (TTNF) involving
three trading blocs is
now engaged in phase one of
negotiations to launch an integrated
market covering 26
countries in eastern and
southern Africa.

body:
THE TRIPARTITE Trade Negotiation
Forum (TTNF) involving
three trading blocs is
now engaged in phase one of
negotiations to launch an integrated
market covering 26
countries in eastern and
southern Africa.
The Common Market for
Eastern and Southern Africa
(COMESA), the Eastern
African Community (EAC)
and SADC are conducting
their negotiations for a Tripartite
Free Trade Area (FTA)
which are done in different
phases.
 
According to a roadmap
adopted at the second joint
summit of heads of state and
government of the three Regional
Economic Communities
(RECs) held in June 2011,
the negotiations will be conducted
in three phases –
preparatory phase, phase one
and phase two.
 
The preparatory phase
mainly involved the exchange
of all relevant information, including
tariffs applicable in
each country, as well as trade
data and measures.
 
It was aimed at ensuring
that the three regional economic
communities adopt
terms of reference and rules of
procedure for the establishment
of the TTNF.
 
This phase began in December
2011 and was expected
to last between six and 12
months. Following its completion
in November 2012, the tripartite
negotiations have now
moved into phase one of negotiations.
 
Phase one will cover core
FTA issues of tariff liberalization,
rules of origin, customs
procedures and simplification
of customs documentation,
transit procedures, non-tariff
barriers, trade remedies and
other technical barriers to
trade and dispute resolution.
 
Facilitating movement of
business persons within the
region will be negotiated in
parallel with phase one.
 
The last stage of negotiations
– phase two – is expected
to cover trade in services and
trade related issues including
intellectual property rights,
competition policy, and trade
development and competitiveness.
 
According to the roadmap,
all negotiations for the socalled
“Grand” FTA should be
completed within 36 months.
 
Thereafter, COMESA-EAC-
SADC is expected launch its
single FTA by 2016.
 
The proposed FTA is expected
to bolster intra-regional
trade by creating a
wider market, increased investment
flows, enhanced
competitiveness and the development
of cross-regional
infrastructure.
 
The integrated market
would comprise a combined
population of almost 600 million
people and a total Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) of
about US$1 trillion.
 
This would open borders to
literally half of the continent,
spanning the entire southern
and eastern regions of Africa –
from Cape to Cairo.
 
The “Grand” FTA is within
the framework of establishing
an African Economic Community
and the overall African
Union Vision and Strategy
presented in the 1980 Lagos
Plan of Action and the Abuja
Treaty of 1991.
 
Africa aims to establish a
continent-wide free trade area
by 2017, and regional trade
arrangements such as the Tripartite
FTA are regarded as
some of the building blocks of
the envisaged African Economic
Community.


body:
THE COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite was established in
2005 with the main objective of strengthening and deepening
economic integration of the southern and east Africa regions.
This is being achieved through various initiatives aimed
at harmonizing policies and programmes of the three RECs
in the areas of trade, customs and infrastructure development,
and implementing these in a coordinated manner, and
wherever possible jointly.
 
The Tripartite agenda is focused and underpinned by a
robust vision and strategy which is implemented through a
wide-ranging work programme whose main pillars include:
harmonization and improvement of functionality of regional
trading arrangements and programmes, including
establishing a Tripartite FTA encompassing its 26 member
countries;

enhancement of trade facilitation to improve flow of
goods along transport corridors by lowering transit times
and the cost of trading;

joint planning and implementation of infrastructure programmes,
which mainly comprise of surface (road, rail,
border posts, seaports) and air transport, ICT and energy;
and

free movement of business persons within the Tripartite
region to facilitate the conduct of business.
 
 
 
The Tripartite is also addressing challenges of overlapping
membership through harmonizing programmes across the
three RECs.


title:
SADC, EU determined to boost cooperation

Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICA and
the European Union have
made a commitment to
strengthen cooperation in various
socio-economic areas to
promote development in the
two regions.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICA and
the European Union have
made a commitment to
strengthen cooperation in various
socio-economic areas to
promote development in the
two regions.
SADC and the EU made
the pledge at a ministerial political
dialogue held in Maputo,
Mozambique in late
March. The meeting marked
19 years since the commencement
of the SADC-EU dialogue.
 
At the meeting, the two regions
signed a €20 million
agreement that would assist
SADC implement a new programme
entitled Regional
Economic Integration Support
(REIS), which is aimed at
boosting trade and deepening
integration through the removal
of barriers to trade and
improving the business environment
in the region.
 
SADC Executive Secretary
Tomaz Salomão signed the
agreement on behalf of SADC
while Head of Delegation of
the EU to Botswana, Ambassador
Gerard McGovern represented
the EU.
 
The REIS is intended to further
regional economic integration
which is the key focus
of EU-SADC cooperation
under the 10th European Development
Fund (EDF) and is
based on the SADC Common
Agenda and on the priorities
set in its Regional Indicative
Strategic Development Plan
(RISDP).
 
The proposed REIS will
focus on two protocols that
are key to providing the basis
for regional economic integration
– the SADC Trade
Protocol and the Protocol on
Finance and Investment –
and will also support negoti-
ation and implementation of
the Economic Partnership
Agreement (EPA).
 
The REIS is intended to address
implementation issues
of these two protocols at the
regional level and particularly
in the SADC Secretariat.
 
The specific objective of the
programme is to create the enabling
environment through
the SADC Secretariat to enhance
the movement of goods
and services within SADC, facilitate
investment, and secure
World Trade Organisation
compatible market access
arrangements between SADC
EPA countries and the EU.
 
On EDF 11, which would
cover the period 2014-2020,
the regional organizations
agreed to start consultations in
April to identify SADC’s priorities
for funding for the next
seven years.
 
Consultations are expected
to be completed by the end of
the year and an agreement has
been made to ensure that the
support focuses on the core
mandate of SADC and the
linkage between national and
regional development.
 
With regard to infrastructure
development, the two regions
agreed to work together
in improving infrastructure in
southern African.
 
The EU said it would
support the recently approved
Regional Infrastructure Development
Master Plan and
other cross border infrastructure
development projects
from the EU-Africa Infrastructure
Trust Fund.
 
In respect to SADC’s RISDP
that is currently under review,
both regions agreed on the importance
of effective and focused
implementation of the
development blueprint as the
roadmap for the region's economic
integration.
 
SADC invited the EU and
other International Cooperating
Partners (ICPs) to share
experiences and support the
review process.
 
On the ongoing EPA negotiations
with the EU, SADC
emphasised the need to conclude
discussions as soon as
possible in a manner that will
bring about an outcome that
will assist developing countries
in the long run.
 
Various issues have stalled
negotiations, including how to
navigate the complex and numerous
trade arrangements in
southern Africa while maintaining
coherence within the
region.
 
Other challenges are how
to deal with services, investment
and other trade-related
issues such as rules of origin,
as well as some provisions of
the interim EPA text that seem
to favour one party over another.
 
The SADC negotiating
group comprises Angola,
Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique,
Namibia, Swaziland
and the United Republic of
Tanzania.
 
The other SADC countries
– Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius,
Zambia and Zimbabwe –
negotiated under the Eastern
and Southern Africa group
(ESA), while the Democratic
Republic of Congo is in the
Economic Community of Central
African States (CEMAC).
 
South Africa participates in
the SADC group but only as
an observer as the country already
has a trade agreement
with Europe.
 
It was agreed that the meetings
be held periodically with
a SADC-EU senior officials
meeting taking place on a
yearly basis, while the SADCEU
ministerial level meeting is
to be organized every two
years.
 
The venue of the meetings
will alternate between the
SADC and EU regions. Therefore,
the next senior officials
meeting and ministerial-level
meeting will be held in 2014
and 2015, respectively, in Brussels,
Belgium.


title:
Africa, South America
Towards south-south
cooperation

Abstract:
AFRICA AND South
America (ASA) have
started implementing a
total of 27 projects signed
at the 3rd ASA Summit
held in Malabo, Equatorial
Guinea.

body:
AFRICA AND South
America (ASA) have
started implementing a
total of 27 projects signed
at the 3rd ASA Summit
held in Malabo, Equatorial
Guinea.
The projects cover several
areas of common interest,
including education and
culture, peace and security,
institution-building, governance
and public administration,
trade, investment
and tourism.
 
Other sectors are infrastructure,
transport and
energy, science and technology,
agriculture and the environment,
social issues,
health, sport, gender and
youth. The implementation
plan will be for the period
2013 to 2016.


Abstract:
THE RELATIONSHIP of governments
and national treasuries
with mining companies
is being reviewed in several
countries in southern Africa,
with the objective of increasing
revenue and securing sustainable
income for national
development.

body:
THE RELATIONSHIP of governments
and national treasuries
with mining companies
is being reviewed in several
countries in southern Africa,
with the objective of increasing
revenue and securing sustainable
income for national
development.
Tanzania, Zambia and
South Africa, among others,
have reviewed or are reviewing
mining royalties, and Zimbabwe
is implementing a
policy of economic empowerment
through share ownership
to address the needs of
previously disadvantaged
people.
 
South African President
Jacob Zuma said in his State of
the Nation address in February
that his finance minister
would commission a study of
tax policies this year “to make
sure that we have an appropriate
revenue base to support
public spending.”
 
“Part of this study will
evaluate the current mining
royalties’ regime, with regard
to its ability to suitably serve
our people.”
 
South Africa is the world’s
biggest producer of platinum,
chrome and manganese,
among others.
 
According to the Department
of Mineral Resources,
nine loss-making platinum
mineshafts were closed last
year, and Anglo-American
Platinum, the biggest producer,
announced plans to
“idle” four shafts, which
could cost 14,000 jobs, although
Anglo’s diamond
unit, De Beers, announced
plans to invest US$2.3 billion
in a new underground mine.
 
The mining industry in
South Africa directly employs
500,000 people, according to
Bloomberg, contributes some
nine percent of Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) and generates
two-thirds of exports.
 
At the start of diamond
mining in South Africa in the
1860s, Afrikaner farmers fleeing
British rule settled in the
Rustenburg valley and displaced
local communities
without regard to the traditional
rights of ownership by
the Bafokeng. They surveyed
and registered farms, parcelling
them among themselves.
 
The chief of the area during
that time, Kgos Mokgatle,
recognised that ownership of
traditional Bafokeng land was
likely to be seized. He ordered
young men from the community
to walk to Kimberley,
484km away, to work and earn
money that was accumulated
in a central community fund
to buy farms in the area. Most
of the land owned by the Bafokeng
was acquired in this way
over a 20-year period.
 
Today, through various
economic empowerment
schemes, the Royal Bafokeng
community owns sizeable
stakes in Implats, the new
Bafokeng Rasimone platinum
mine, and SA Coal Mining, as
well as stakes in blue-chip
companies providing cellular
phone services and insurance.
 
Zimbabweans share the
same history with other indigenous
people in southern
Africa who were forcibly
driven off their land to make
way for white settlers.
 
Zimbabwe has embarked
on a policy of involving previously
disadvantaged indigenous
Zimbabweans in the
economic activities of the
country to ensure equitable
development of communities
through ownership of the
country’s resources.
 
Through the Zimbabwe Indigenisation
and Economic
Empowerment Act, passed in
2007 but implemented from
2010, foreign firms must sell at
least 51 percent of their shares
to indigenous Zimbabweans
over a four-year period starting
from February 2011.
 
The annual indigenisation
targets are as follows:
Year 1 – 26% shareholding;

Year 2 – 36% shareholding;

Year 3 – 46% shareholding;

Year 4 – 51% shareholding.


 
Various measures have
been instituted to ensure
broad-based participation by a
broad spectrum of indigenous
Zimbabweans, including the
introduction of management
and employee share ownership
trusts and community
share ownership trusts.
 
More than 120 mining companies
have complied with the
indigenisation laws and 400
employee share ownership
trusts have been established as
vehicles for participation by
local communities in the
shareholding of businesses
operating in their areas, including
Zimbabwe Platinum
(Zimplats), which is majorityowned
by South African platinum
group, Impala Platinum
(Implats).
 
To date up to five community
schemes, with seed capital
of more than US$100
million, have been launched
by President Robert Mugabe.
 
The proceeds from such
participation are to be properly
accounted for and used in
projects that benefit the communities.
 
Government policy is that
management and employees
should acquire some shareholding
as part of the 51
percent indigenisation requirement,
while at least 10
percent of the shareholding in
qualifying businesses should
be reserved for communities
through community trusts.
 
Money accruing to the
trusts from such shareholding
in a business is already being
used for the provision of social
and economic infrastructure
in line with the priorities
of the communities concerned,
such as schools and
other educational institutions;
educational scholarships;
support to local hospitals and
clinics; maintenance of roads,
water works and sanitation
facilities.
 
“This agreement underlines
our commitment to good
corporate citizenship and lays
the foundation for the creation
of a sustainable Zimbabwean
platinum mining
company capable of attracting
the investment needed to deliver
future benefits to our
shareholders, the people of
Zimbabwe, our employees
and the local community,”
said Implats chief executive,
Terence Goodlace.


title:
Tanzania to lead SADC intervention force in DRC

Abstract:
THE UNITED Republic of
Tanzania will command the
SADC military contingent in
the Democratic Republic of
Congo, as part of an international
intervention force
whose deployment was approved
by the United Nations
Security Council in March.

body:
THE UNITED Republic of
Tanzania will command the
SADC military contingent in
the Democratic Republic of
Congo, as part of an international
intervention force
whose deployment was approved
by the United Nations
Security Council in March.
SADC Standby Force Chief
of Staff, Brigadier General
Maaparankoe Mahao said
nine SADC Member States
have pledged personnel to be
deployed when the mission
starts.
 
These are Angola, Lesotho,
Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia,
South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia
and Zimbabwe.
 
Mahoa said Mozambique,
Tanzania and South Africa
have pledged battalions while
Malawi and Lesotho will contribute
companies. Zimbabwe
has committed to send several
units to join the force.
 
He said it was difficult to
estimate the cost of the mission
in the DRC "as we do not
know how much time we are
going to spend there."
 
The security situation
in the DRC was the
only item under discussion
at an Extraordinary
SADC summit held in Maputo
in February.
 
Speaking to reporters
after the meeting,
the SADC Executive Secretary,
Tomaz Salomão, said the
deployment plan has been
drawn up and Member States
are making troops available.
 
“Now we are waiting for a
UN mandate for the SADC
military intervention which
should not be confused with
an invasion.”
 
Salomão recognised the
complexity of the situation in
DRC, where SADC has decided
to deploy a neutral intervention
force in a joint initiative with
the United Nations.
 
In addition to the mandate,
there are other sensitive questions
under discussion such as
the security of the soldiers
who will be stationed in eastern
DRC.
 
“You can’t just take soldiers
and put them in a place that’s
unstable. We have to work on
logistical and security questions,”
Salomão said.
 
These preparations include
the procedures to be followed
in the event of the death of
any members of the regional
force.
 
The DRC slid into political
turmoil last year when antigovernment
rebels calling
themselves the March 23
Movement invaded and captured
the city of Goma, causing
causing
the displacement of people
and loss of lives and property.
 
The rebels have since
threatened to march on Kinshasa,
the capital of the vast,
mineral-rich country.
 
SADC has demanded the
cessation of hostilities and
called for a peaceful and
durable resolution of the conflict,
saying it can be resolved
through collective dialogue.


title:
Peace and security framework for
DRC signed

Abstract:
SADC AND other regional
and international organizations
have signed a Peace and
Security Cooperation Framework
for the Democratic Republic
of Congo that aims to
resolve the conflict in the eastern
part of the country.

body:
SADC AND other regional
and international organizations
have signed a Peace and
Security Cooperation Framework
for the Democratic Republic
of Congo that aims to
resolve the conflict in the eastern
part of the country.
Signed in February in
Ethiopia by the DRC, its
neighbours in the Economic
Community of the Great
Lakes Countries (CEPGL) and
SADC, the framework affords
opportunities to all stakeholders
to commit themselves to
attaining lasting peace in the
DRC.
 
The framework was signed
by 11 southern and eastern
African countries, with all the
signatories pledging to refrain
from supporting Congolese
rebel groups. However, none
of the various Congolese rebel
militias were present at the
signing.
 
The United Nations has
committed to undertake a
strategic review of its peacekeeping
force, the UN Stabilization
Mission in the DRC
(MONUSCO).
 
The UN and the African
Union are guarantors to the
agreement.


Abstract:
THE UNITED Nations Security
Council has unanimously
approved an unprecedented
offensive "intervention brigade"
with a mandate to operate
in eastern DRC.

body:
THE UNITED Nations Security
Council has unanimously
approved an unprecedented
offensive "intervention brigade"
with a mandate to operate
in eastern DRC.
However, while the enabling
resolution authorizes the
first-ever offensive unit of 2,500
troops to engage the rebels in
the resource-rich eastern region,
with or without government
troops, on "an exceptional
basis and without creating a
precedent" for UN peacekeeping
operations, it insists on a
"clear exit strategy" before expiry
in one year.
 
The special unit will become
part of the UN Stabilization
Mission in the DRC
(MONUSCO).
 
Its objective is to counter
the "destabilizing activities of
the March 23 Movement and
other Congolese and foreign
armed groups operating in the
eastern Congo," for violations
of international humanitarian
law. Xinhua


Abstract:
ZIMBABWEANS VOTED
overwhelmingly in favour of a
new Constitution during a referendum
in March,paving the
way for general elections later
this year.

body:
ZIMBABWEANS VOTED
overwhelmingly in favour of a
new Constitution during a referendum
in March,paving the
way for general elections later
this year.
According to the results re-
leased by the Zimbabwe Elec-
toral Commission (ZEC), a
total of 3,316,082 people cast
their ballots during the referendum
held on 16 March.
 
Of the total votes cast,
3,079,966 (93 percent) voted in
favour of the draft Constitu-
tion, while 179,469 voted
against. There were 56,627 rejected
ballots.
 
Voting was open to all Zim-
babwean citizens aged 18
years and above who could
present valid identification, regardless
of whether they are
registered as voters or not.
 
Voter turnout was higher
than the last referendum held
in 2000 and the March 2008
general elections when 1.3
million and 2.5 million people
voted, respectively. 
 
The draft Constitution,
whose development was facil-
itated by an inter-party parlia-
mentary committee, has since
been gazetted in the form of a
Constitutional Bill for a period
of at least 30 days as required
by the law. 
 
The Bill will be tabled in the
House of Assembly on 7 May
for debate and final approval
by at least a two-thirds majority,
and then forwarded to the
Senate for approval by a two
thirds majority, after which it
will be sent to the President
for signature.
 
The date of the harmonized
presidential/parliamentary/
local government elections is
expected to be announced
soon after the new Constitu-
tion becomes law. The duration
of the current Parliament
ends on 29 June.
 
The draft Constitution will
replace the present Lancaster
House Constitution, which
was negotiated in London before
Independence and has
been amended 19 times since
1980.
 
The draft Constitution proposes
a number of sweeping
measures, including increasing
the number of women in decision-
making positions.
 
The Parliament will be made
up of the National Assembly
and the Senate. The National
Assembly will comprise of a
total of 270 members, consisting
of 210 MPs elected by secret ballot
from 210 single-member
constituencies and 60 additional
women elected by proportional
representation – six each from
the country’s 10 administrative
provinces.
 
The Senate will comprise of
80 members, six elected from
each province through a system
of proportional representation,
based on the votes cast
for candidates representing
political parties in the National
Assembly elections and selected
from party lists based
on the “zebra” system in
which “male and female candidates
are listed alternatively,
every list being headed by a female
candidate.”
 
Election observers from
SADC endorsed the referendum
on Zimbabwe’s new
Constitution, urging Zimbabweans
to remain peaceful
ahead of watershed general
elections later this year.
 
In a preliminary statement
issued at the conclusion of the
referendum, the SADC Election
Observation Mission
(SEOM) applauded the peaceful
and orderly conduct of the
referendum.
 
SEOM noted that despite
concerns about the resources
available to ZEC for prepara-
tion of the referendum, limited
time for voter education, and a
polarised media, the overall
preparations and voting
processes were conducted in a
credible manner.
 
“In general, the mission observed
that the polling process
was conducted in a peaceful,
transparent and smooth manner,”
Hon. Bernard Membe
said.
 
“The Mission observed that
the counting process began
immediately after the closing
of the polling stations. The
counting process was conducted
procedurally.”
 
Membe, who headed the
SADC observer mission, is a
Member of Parliament in the
United Republic of Tanzania,
and Minister of Foreign Affairs
and International Cooperation.
 
The SADC mission noted
that, over and above general
adherence to the relevant national
legal instruments and
the SADC Principles and
Guidelines Governing Democratic
Elections, some “best
democratic practices and lessons”
were observed in the referendum.
 
These included the provision
of adequate logistical and
material support by the ZEC to
ensure that all citizens of voting
age were able to participate
in the referendum;
prompt accreditation of observers;
provision of several
polling streams that expedited
the voting process; use of indelible
ink to prevent double
voting; use of translucent bal-
lot boxes; and high state of
preparedness by the Zimbabwe
Republic Police in providing
adequate security.
 
The SEOM was officially
launched in Harare on 10
March and deployed 78 observers
to Zimbabwe’s 10
provinces.


title:
Madagascar presidential poll postponed to July

Abstract:
THE FIRST round of presidential
elections in Madagascar
was postponed to 24 July from
May due to logistical challenges,
the Independent National
Election Commission of
the Transition (CENIT) said.

body:
THE FIRST round of presidential
elections in Madagascar
was postponed to 24 July from
May due to logistical challenges,
the Independent National
Election Commission of
the Transition (CENIT) said.
CENIT president Atallah
Beatrice said the second round,
if necessary, will be held with
the parliamentary election on 25
September. The run-off was initially
set for 3 July while legislative
elections were originally
scheduled for July.
 
The two main political rivals
in Madagascar have resolved
not to stand in
presidential elections amid regional
and international pressure
to give the island nation a
fresh start after four years of
constitutional crisis.
 
Andry Rajoelina, President
of the Transitional Authority,
and former president Marc
Ravalomanana have both said
they will not stand in the elections.


body:
April
15-17, Namibia

SADC Digital Broadcasting Migration Forum

SADC broadcasters will discuss activities that would
ensure all member states are ready for digital broadcasting
transition.


May
6-8, Zambia

SADC Water Resources Technical Committee

The committee comprising government technical experts
on water meets at least once a year to discuss
water resources management in the region, reporting
to the Committee of SADC Water Ministers.
 


8-10, South Africa

World Economic Forum on Africa 2013

The theme for this year’s forum is “Delivering on
Africa’s Promise.” The meeting will be attended by
various regional and global business, government
and civil society leaders to further Africa’s integration
agenda and renew commitment to sustainable
growth and development.
 


9-10, Zimbabwe

Regional Researchers Consultative Workshop on
RISDP Mid-Term Review

This two-day workshop will enable researchers from
institutions in the region to make a direct input into the
RISDP review process.
 


14-16, Lesotho

SADC Energy Ministers

SADC Energy Ministers will meet to discuss the energy
situation in the region, and the prevailing power
deficits. The meeting will be preceded by a preparatory
meeting of senior officials.
 


15-17, South Africa

Women in Entrepreneurship, Infrastructure and Sustainable
Energy Development

The conference aims to review global progress in implementing
targets since the designation of 2012 as
the International Year of Sustainable Energy. Delegates
will assess available infrastructure and sustainable
energy opportunities, and impacts on the social
and economic development of communities.
 



19-27, Ethiopia

21st African Union Summit

Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the OAU/
African Union, African leaders will discuss ways to
deepen integration and advance development. The
theme for the golden jubilee is “Pan-Africanism and
African Renaissance”. The Organisation of African
Unity was established on 25 May 1963 with a political
agenda to liberate the continent from colonial
rule and apartheid. After achieving that, it was transformed
into the African Union in 2002 to pursue
unity and development.
 



20-24, Lesotho

SADC Ministers Responsible for Telecommunications,
Postal and ICT

SADC ministers will discuss telecommunications infrastructure
in the region and projects to support other
sectors including tourism, commerce and industry.
 



27-31, Angola

SADC Water Ministers

SADC Ministers responsible for water resources will
meet in Luanda to discuss the state of water in the region,
and progress toward implementation of the Regional
Strategic Action Plan on integrated water
resources development and management.
 


June
TBA, Mozambique

SADC Infrastructure Investment Summit

The conference will seek to attract potential investors
for the SADC regional infrastructure development
programme, and will be followed by roadshows in
Asia, Europe and the United States.


title:
African vision of development
and prosperity

Abstract:
FIFTY YEARS ago the leaders of the 32 independent
African countries established
the Organization of African Unity on 25
May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

body:
FIFTY YEARS ago the leaders of the 32 independent
African countries established
the Organization of African Unity on 25
May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The main vision of the founding fathers
of the OAU was to accelerate the political
liberation of the African continent and
those African nations still under colonial
rule, a goal they achieved more than 30
years later with the end of apartheid in
1994.
 
They also committed to promote unity
and cohesion among the newly independent
African states while advancing their
economic development.
 
The founding fathers reasoned that the
promotion of unity, integration and solidarity
among African states was crucial for
securing the continent’s long-term economic
and political future. The OAU was
reconstituted as the African Union in 2002
for this purpose.
 
Today the founding of the OAU is celebrated
and commemorated every year on
25 May as Africa Day, a day when, regardless
of their whereabouts or situations,
Africans celebrate the liberation of the continent
and the dream of African unity.
 
Three southern African states were
among the OAU founding members –
Democratic Republic of Congo (then
known as Congo Léopoldville), Madagascar,
Tanganyika and Zanzibar. The last two
countries united the following year to form
the United Republic of Tanzania.
 
The newly independent states were
faced with formidable tasks such as developing
their economies and transforming
their societies while they remained heavily
indebted to Western entities such as the
World Bank and the International Monetary
Fund.
 
The OAU played a pivotal role in eradicating
colonialism and minority rule in
Africa.
 
An OAU Liberation Committee was established
and hosted in the then Tanzanian
capital, Dar es Salaam, to provide material
assistance to independence movements,
mainly those from southern Africa who
had to take up arms to liberate their countries.
 
The founding fathers of the OAU included
the host, Emperor Haile Selassie I of
Ethiopia, and the founding Presidents of
Ghana and Tanganyika, Osagyefo Kwame
Nkrumah and Mwalimu Julius Nyerere,
who were the leading proponents of Pan-
Africanism in the latter half of the 20th century.
 
Selassie I was the first chairperson of
the OAU from May 1963 to July 1964, followed
by Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt
(July 1964-October 1965) and Nkrumah (October
1965-February 1966).
 
South Africa became the 53rd nation to
join the OAU after overcoming apartheid
and electing a new democratic government
in 1994, leaving only Western Sahara
still a colony of Morocco. Morocco left the
OAU in a dispute over Western Sahara.
 
The OAU was officially disbanded on 9
July 2002 by its last chairperson, former
South African President Thabo Mbeki, and
replaced by the African Union.
 
At the time of its disbanding, 53 out of
54 African states had become members of
the OAU.
 
To commemorate 50 years since the
founding of the OAU, various events have
been organized by the AU Commission.
 
These include the symbolic lighting of
torches by all member states. The torches
symbolise Africa’s desire to reverse the present
negative image of despair “into the real
narrative of opportunity and potential.”
 
“These torches are also a symbol of our
collective will to brighten Africa's future,”
said AU Commission chairperson,
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.


body:
“TIME HAS come that Africa must take her rightful
place in global affairs. Time has come to end the marginalisation
of Africa. We call on the rest of the world
to work with us as partners.” Former South African
President Thabo Mbeki in a speech at the disbanding
of the OAU and the launch of the African Union, 9
July 2002 in Durban, South Africa.


body:
1 April Easter Monday   Botswana, Lesotho,
Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia,
South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania,
Zambia, Zimbabwe

4 April Peace and Reconciliation Day Angola

7 April Sheikh Abeid Karume Day Tanzania
Women’s Day Mozambique

8 April Public Holiday Mozambique

11 April Ougadi Mauritius

18 April Independence Day Zimbabwe

19 April King’s Birthday Swaziland

25 April National Flag Day Swaziland

26 April Union Day Tanzania

27 April Freedom Day South Africa

30 April Youth Day DRC

1 May Workers Day Lesotho, Zambia
Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa,
Tanzania, Zimbabwe
Labour Day Angola, Botswana, Malawi,
Madagascar, DRC, Mauritius,
Seychelles, Swaziland

4 May Cassinga Day Namibia

9 May Ascension Day Botswana, Lesotho,
Madagascar, Namibia, Swaziland

14 May Kamuzu Day Malawi

17 May Liberation Day DRC

19 May Whit Sunday Madagascar

20 May Whit Monday Madagascar

25 May Africa Day Angola, Lesotho,
Namibia, Zimbabwe

Africa Freedom Day Zambia


title:
Regulatory and policy incentives
Towards SADC energy security

Abstract:
AS SOUTHERN Africa steps up efforts to improve
power supply in the region, the question
of guaranteeing energy security is expanding
from the usual concerns around generation capacity
to addressing pertinent soft infrastructure
issues that create an enabling environment
for investment in the sector.

body:
AS SOUTHERN Africa steps up efforts to improve
power supply in the region, the question
of guaranteeing energy security is expanding
from the usual concerns around generation capacity
to addressing pertinent soft infrastructure
issues that create an enabling environment
for investment in the sector.
While attention has focused on implementation
of short-term measures such as construction
of new power stations or rehabilitation of
existing ones to improve generation capacity in
the region, the debate is now shifting towards
the policy environment and investment incentives
for investors.
 
Southern Africa has suffered a shortage of
electricity since 2007 as the growing demand
exceeds supply and the expectation was that
this energy gap would 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 investment of more than 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
last year.
 
The policy environment in most SADC
Member States does not encourage private sector
participation in the energy sector.
Generally, there is need for a review of the
operating environment in the power sector to
encourage investment, including Public-Private
Partnerships (PPPs). This would involve
a review of the legal and regulatory framework
governing the sector.
 
With the exception of a few countries such
as Zambia, the majority of SADC countries are
yet to fully embrace the PPP concept despite
being party to the SAPP Inter-Utility Memorandum
of Understanding that formally allows
private players to get involved in the energy
sector.
 
Zambia has established a public institution
that facilitates and promotes the implementation
of PPPs.
 
A number of long-planned projects have
failed to take off as the private sector has been
reluctant to engage in partnerships with the
public sector, mainly due to inappropriate financing
formulas.
 
According to Lawrence
Musaba, Coordination Centre
Manager at the Southern
African Power Pool (SAPP),
there is need for SADC to put
in place mechanisms that improve
the attractiveness of the
power sector for investors.
 
“One measure proposed is
the provision of incentives for
all investors in the power sector,
both local and foreign,”
Musaba said during a researchers
workshop on the
mid-term review of the SADC
Regional Indicative Strategic
Development Plan (RISDP)
held in Harare, Zimbabwe, in
May.
 
Proposed incentives include
introduction of tax exemptions
for investors
involved in the construction
and rehabilitation of power
stations.
 
“For example, we are saying
that Member States should
allow for Value Added Tax
and other tax exemptions for
defined periods for those companies
and investors who import
power equipment and
machinery,” said Musaba.
 
In addition, other incentives
should include the introduction
of rebates for power
producers in the form of subsidies
as well as government
grants for power utilities.
 
According to the SADC
Regional Energy Access Strategy,
any subsidies to the energy
sector should prioritise
access over consumption.
 
While subsidies have an
important role to play in extending
access, subsidy programmes
need to be carefully
designed and targeted at the
power producers to encourage
more investment.
 
The rationale is that subsidies
to consumer energy prices
simply reduce the cost of energy
for those who already
have access to electricity.
 
For this reason, government
or donor resources available
for subsidies would
contribute more to equity and
efficiency objectives if they are
spent on once-off capital subsidies
than on subsidies to recurrent
costs.
 
The SAPP is also proposing
the creation of a Demand
Side Management (DSM) fund
to support DSM initiatives.
 
The rationale behind the fund
is to compensate utilities for
revenue losses emanating
from the reduced energy
usage as a result of the DSM
initiatives.
 
SAPP is implementing
various DSM programmes
that include promotion of energy
efficiency technologies
such as the replacement of incandescent
bulbs with Compact
Fluorescent Lamps
(CFLs) and introduction of the
solar water heater programme,
hot water load control,
and the commercial
lighting programme.
 
Switching from traditional
light bulbs to CFLs has been
an effective programme by
SAPP to reduce energy use at
home and prevent greenhouse
gas emissions that contribute
to climate change.
 
Research shows that residential
lighting accounts for
about 20 percent of the average
home electricity bill in the
SADC region. However, compared
to incandescent bulbs,
CFLs have been shown to save
up to 80 percent of electricity
consumption.
 
Similarly, the hot water
load-control programme being
pursued by SAPP has enabled
consumers to install load control
switches that automatically
turn off power during
peak periods or when appliances
such as geysers have
reached maximum demand.
 
To date, the majority of
SAPP members have introduced
the CFLs on a large
scale. Other forms of DSM are
at various levels of implementation.
 
Power savings realised
from these four DSM initiatives
between 2009 and 2012
amounted to 2,316 megawatts,
according to SAPP.
 
It is envisaged that the
DSM programme will include
a public education campaign
whose primary objective will
be to increase awareness about
energy efficiency.
 
However, the downside of
implementing such initiatives
is that they affect the viability
of power utilities. Hence the
need for the proposed fund.
Other measures being considered
include the use of costreflective
tariffs, time of use
tariffs, renewable energy feedin
tariffs, as well as introduction 
of penalties for inefficient
use of energy by customers.
 
Cost-reflective tariffs encourage
people to move their
electricity consumption from
peak times to off-peak periods
by adjusting the price charged
at certain times of each day.
This helps reduce the overall
peak load and is referred to as
load shifting, a common practice
in many parts of the
world.
 
Related to cost-reflective
tariffs is the time-of-use pricing
concept whereby electricity
prices are set for a specific
time period on an advance or
forward basis, usually not
changing more than twice a
year.
 
Prices paid for energy consumed
during these periods
are pre-established and known
to consumers in advance, allowing
them to vary their
usage in response to such
prices and manage their energy
costs by shifting usage to
lower cost periods or reducing
their overall consumption.
 
Renewable energy feed-in
tariffs have been successful in
increasing the use of renewable
technologies worldwide.
They encourage investment
in renewable energy generation
by offering long-term contracts
to producers and guaranteeing
to buy and pay for all the electricity
produced.
 
Feed-in tariffs have proven
wildly successful in Germany
and other European countries
such as Denmark and Spain,
where they are credited with
the much greater adoption of
wind and solar power there
than in the United States.
 
There is, therefore, need to
embrace the principle of energy
efficiency in SADC and
adopt regulatory principles
that incentivise efficient use
of electricity and penalise
wasteful usage.


title:
Researchers contribute to RISDP mid-term review

Abstract:
RESEARCHERS FROM
southern Africa have made an
input into the ongoing independent
review of the SADC
Regional Indicative Strategic
Development Plan (RISDP).

body:
RESEARCHERS FROM
southern Africa have made an
input into the ongoing independent
review of the SADC
Regional Indicative Strategic
Development Plan (RISDP).
At a workshop held in
Harare, Zimbabwe, in May, the
researchers made some valuable
input into sectoral issues
and targets to be addressed in
the mid-term review.
 
The issues identified included
the need to interrogate
whether the present SADC integration
model promotes equitable
and sustainable
integration; a review of macroeconomic
convergence targets
in line with current regional
and continental dynamics; and
recognition of the impact on
regional development of
emerging issues such as climate
change.
 
The RISDP was approved
in 2003 and launched in 2004,
while effective implementation
began in 2005, following
the development of a detailed
operational framework.
 
The main purpose of the
15-year plan is to provide
strategic direction with respect
to SADC programmes and activities,
and to align the strategic
objectives and priorities of
SADC with the policies and
strategies for achieving its long
term-goals.
 
The RISDP aims to deepen
regional integration in SADC
with the ultimate objective of
eradicating poverty in the region.
 
To fasttrack the implementation
of the RISDP, SADC refocussed
its priorities in 2007
as: Trade, economic liberalization
and development; Infrastructure
in support of
regional integration; Politics,
defence and security cooperation;
Food security, environment
and management of
trans-boundary natural resources;
Social and human development;
Gender and
development; Statistics; and
Science and technology.
 
In 2011, the SADC Council
of Ministers directed the
SADC Secretariat to conduct a
desk assessment of the RISDP
implementation.
 
The assessment revealed
that significant progress has
been achieved towards meeting
the targets set in the SADC
regional economic integration
agenda.
 
The assessment noted that
all sectors were able to reach
most of the outputs and targets,
either fully or partially,
within the stated timeframes.
 
For example, SADC successfully
launched its Free
Trade Area in 2008, which has
improved intra-regional trade
by facilitating the movement
of goods and services between
member countries.
 
To complement the Secretariat’s
desk assessment,
Council directed that an external
mid-term review involving
Member States and other
stakeholders be done to assess
the RISDP performance.
 
Such a review is important
in determining progress made
as well as in devising new
strategies to accelerate
poverty reduction and the attainment
of other development
goals of the SADC
region in a sustainable manner.
 
The Trade and Development
Studies Centre (Trades
Centre) in Harare, Zimbabwe,
is carrying out the independent
RISDP Mid-Term Review.
 
The Southern African Research
and Documentation
Centre (SARDC), with the
support of the GIZ and in consultation
with the SADC Secretariat
and the Trades Centre,
organised a Regional Researchers
Consultative Workshop
on the SADC RISDP
Mid-Term Review to facilitate
the input of regional researchers
in early May in
Harare, Zimbabwe.
 
The objective of the consultative
workshop was to enable
researchers from research
institutions in Member States
to use their expertise and
knowledge to make a direct
input into the RISDP review
process and contribute to the
results.
 
The workshop report is
expected to enrich the scope
and depth of issues around
the implementation of the
RISDP gathered from Member
States which will be complimentary
to the findings of
the SADC Secretariat desk
study of 2011 and the ongoing
independent review undertaken
by the RISDP review
team of consultants.


title:
Key policy recommendations
from researchers workshop

body:
The RISDP review should consider the following:
Establish a mechanism that guarantees adequate funding
of the RISDP and ensures an active role by Member States
in the financing of programmes and projects;

Establish a mechanism for citizen involvement in SADC
programmes and policy implementation and formulation;

Review of SADC Secretariat governance structure to improve
decision-making and implementation of programmes
and projects;

Mainstream gender issues throughout all policies, programmes
and projects;

Review of macroeconomic convergence targets in line
with regional and continental dynamics, including alignment
of market integration targets with COMESA-EAC
targets;

Revisit and energise the transport corridor concept and
ensure that there is enhanced investment in regional communication
infrastructure;

Introduce incentives to promote investment in new power
projects, including creation of an enabling environment
for renewable energy projects and development of regional
policy on energy efficiency;

Strengthen the collection and compilation of statistics, including
gender-disaggregated data for all sectors;

Revisit commitments on budgetary allocations to health
and education;

Align the RISDP with SIPO and other regional policies
and programmes;

Reaffirm commitment towards improving agricultural
production, including implementation of commitments
on budgetary allocations to farming; and,

Consider a regional policy on land reform.


Abstract:
SADC MEMBER States negotiating
economic cooperation
agreements with the European
Union have just over a year to
conclude discussions after Brussels
set October 2014 as the
deadline for negotiations.

body:
SADC MEMBER States negotiating
economic cooperation
agreements with the European
Union have just over a year to
conclude discussions after Brussels
set October 2014 as the
deadline for negotiations.
Namibian Minister of Trade
and Industry, Calle Schlettwein
said the International Trade
Committee of the EU Parliament
has set a 1 October 2014
deadline for negotiations with
African, Caribbean and Pacific
countries that have not yet
signed EPAs with the EU.
 
“This proposed date is the
date on which duty free quota
free market access will be withdrawn
for those who have not
yet signed or ratified an EPA
with the EU,” he said in a statement
to the Namibian Parliament
in April.
 
This means that “any EPA
would have to be concluded far
in advance of 1 October 2014 in
order for trade to continue.”
Discussions are still ongoing
between the EU and
seven SADC countries to produce
a comprehensive Economic
Partnership Agreement
(EPA) between the two regions.
 
Various issues have stalled
negotiations, including how to
navigate the complex and numerous
trade arrangements in
southern Africa while maintaining
coherence within the region.
 
Other challenges are how to
deal with services, investment
and other trade-related issues
such as rules of origin, as well as
some textual provisions of the
interim EPA text that seem to
favour one party over another.
 
The SADC negotiating
group comprises Angola,
Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique,
Namibia, Swaziland and
the United Republic of Tanzania.
 
South Africa participates
in the SADC
group but only as an
observer as the country
already has a trade
agreement with Europe.
 
The other SADC
countries – Madagascar,
Malawi, Mauritius,
Zambia and
Zimbabwe – negotiated under
the Eastern and Southern Africa
(ESA) group, while the Democratic
Republic of Congo is in
the Economic Community of
Central African States
(CEMAC).
 
Members of the ESA group
have already reached an interim
EPA with the EU that
came into force in 2012.
 
The agreement provides access
to the EU market free of
import duties and quotes for exports
from the four countries,
which will, in turn, be required
to gradually open their markets
to European exports over
a 15-year period, with exceptions
for certain products the
countries consider sensitive.
 
The fragmented approach to
the EPAs negotiations, where
SADC and other African regions
are negotiating under different
groups, is seen as one of
the major stumbling blocks to
the negotiation process.


title:
Pilot customs connectivity project for Botswana, Namibia

Abstract:
CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES
in Botswana and Namibia
have partnered with the
Southern African Trade Hub to
develop an automated system
that reduces delays in customs
clearances and facilitates the
sharing of customs information
between countries in
southern Africa.

body:
CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES
in Botswana and Namibia
have partnered with the
Southern African Trade Hub to
develop an automated system
that reduces delays in customs
clearances and facilitates the
sharing of customs information
between countries in
southern Africa.
Although much of the same
data is required to prepare export
documentation in one
country and import documentation
in another country for
cross-border shipments, the
current system requires manual
re-entry of all information.
 
This can result in human
error, delays in preparing and
processing clearance documents,
bottlenecks in clearance
of goods due to data errors and
an increase in trade costs.
 
To reduce these trade costs,
the Botswana Unified Revenue
Service and the Namibia Customs
have partnered with the
Southern African Trade Hub to
establish a pilot customs connectivity
between the two
countries.
 
The Trade Hub said the
system will enable clearing
agents to exchange declaration
data for shipments electronically,
securely and
instantly.
 
“Based on the success of the
pilot, it will be rolled out to
other countries in southern
Africa.”
 
Under the system, clearing
agents will use a new online
portal to transfer export declaration
data across borders
and retrieve import declaration
data through the existing
ASYCUDA++ user interface.
 
Customs officials can access
trade and performance statistics
via an online platform. The
automated system is expected
to improve the collection of
standardized trade statistics
and allow greater visibility of
the cross-border trade
processes.


Abstract:
SADC HAS inaugurated a
centre to improve the capacity
of Member States in implementation
and negotiation of
global trade issues.

body:
SADC HAS inaugurated a
centre to improve the capacity
of Member States in implementation
and negotiation of
global trade issues.
Head of the Directorate on
Trade, Industry, Finance and
Investment, Boitumelo
Gofhamodimo, inaugurated
the World Trade Organization
(WTO) Reference Centre at the
SADC Secretariat in April.
 
Establishment of the centre
follows an official request
made to the WTO last year to
open a reference centre at the
Secretariat to serve as a channel
through which SADC can
receive information, technical
and training assistance to improve
the capacity of staff on
WTO issues.
 
This will provide the SADC
Secretariat, government agencies,
academic, research and
training institutions, businesses
and other stakeholders
with a facility where relevant
information on the WTO can
be accessed.


title:
SACU to develop new revenue sharing agreement

Abstract:
THE SOUTHERN African
Customs Union (SACU) has
embarked on a review of its
revenue-sharing agreement in
a development that could
have important lessons for a
future SADC Customs Union.

body:
THE SOUTHERN African
Customs Union (SACU) has
embarked on a review of its
revenue-sharing agreement in
a development that could
have important lessons for a
future SADC Customs Union.
According to a statement
issued after the 4th SACU
Summit held in Botswana, the
review would also investigate
financing mechanisms to support
industrial and infrastructure
development in the
SACU region.
 
A proposal on the new revenue-
sharing arrangement is
expected to be ready by December
when it will be presented
to the SACU Council of
Ministers for consideration.
 
SACU operates as a customs
union of five countries
that form a single customs territory
in which tariffs and
other barriers are eliminated
on substantially all the trade
between the member states for
products originating in these
countries; and there is a common
external tariff that applies
to non-members of SACU.
 
The main provisions of a
renewable agreement negotiated
in 2002 are that the tariff
regime in force in South Africa
applies to the other countries,
serving as a common external
tariff; and that customs and
excise revenue collected in
member states is paid into a
common pool and distributed
according to a formula
weighted in favour of
Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia
and Swaziland (the BLNS
countries).
 
This weighting is intended
to compensate the smaller
SACU countries for the priceraising
effects of being drawn
behind South Africa's protective
tariff regime, and for the
loss of sovereignty over tariff
and trade policy issues.
 
The BLNS countries have
complained over the years
that the revenue-sharing formula
does not fully compensate
them even for the
price-raising effects, and there
is a lack of consultation by
South Africa with its SACU
partners. There have been allegations
of non-tariff barriers
preventing their access into
the South African market.
 
South Africa has complained
in turn that the
weighted allocation of excise
as well as customs duties to
the BLNS has become an increasing
burden on the South
African fiscus, and that SACU
has become unaffordable.
 
SACU executive secretary,
Tswelelopele Moremi, said it
was important to ensure that
the new revenue-sharing
arrangement is based on
sound principles and technical
analysis so that is sustainable
and appealing to all.
 
The customs union collects
duty on local production as
well as customs duty on imports
from outside SACU. The
taxes collected are put into a
Common Revenue Pool
(CRP).
 
The revenue from the common
pool is allocated to member
countries in quarterly
instalments utilizing the revenue-
sharing formula.
 
According to the SACU
agreement of 2002, the revenue-
sharing formula uses
three components to calculate
revenue shares for member
states. These are a customs
component, an excise component
and a development component.
 
Using the customs component,
revenue is allocated
on the basis of each country’s
share of intra-SACU imports
while the excise element allocates
the funds on the basis of
each country’s share of Gross
Domestic Product (GDP).
 
Revenue allocations using
the development component
are fixed at 15 percent of total
excise revenue and distributed
according to the inverse
of each country’s per capita
GDP.
 
Under the present
arrangement, South Africa is
the custodian of CRP and all
customs and excise duty collected
in the common customs
area are paid into the South
African national revenue
fund. The revenue is then
shared among member states
according to a revenue-sharing
formula as described in
the agreement.
 
Moremi said it was critical
that the review considers
other factors, including what
would happen to the formula
in the event of the expansion
of the SACU membership.
The comprehensive review
of the SACU revenuesharing
agreement should
thus provide some important
lessons for SADC to adopt
when the regional body finally
launches its own Customs
Union.
 
SADC has a target to establish
a Customs Union after
its initial plan to launch one
was shelved in 2010 to allow
countries enough time to implement
the Free Trade Area
established in 2008.
 
In addition, the SACU
summit agreed on the principle
that allocations should be
developmental in focus and
not simply distributive.
 
The leaders noted the
progress in the establishment
of SACU institutions as mandated
by the SACU Agreement
in 2002, that is, the
SACU Tribunal, National Bodies
and the SACU Tariff Board,
as well as the Common Negotiating
Mechanism.
 
The Summit noted with
satisfaction that the construction
of the SACU Headquarters
building in Windhoek,
Namibia, has commenced and
is to be completed by November
2013.
 
SACU was established in
1910, making it the world’s
oldest Customs Union. Historically
SACU was administered
by South Africa, through the
1910 and 1969 Agreements.


body:
The 4th SACU Summit endorsed five priority areas for a new
SACU Work Programme.
Regional Industrial Development Policy

Review of the Revenue Sharing Arrangement

Trade Facilitation

Development of SACU Institutions

Unified Engagement in Trade Negotiations.


title:
SADC forecasts higher cereal output despite changing
rainfall patterns

Abstract:
SADC EXPECTS a relatively
higher output of cereals and
other crops during the 2012/13
season amid indications that
some countries in the region are
poised for a good harvest this
year despite disruptions caused
by erratic rains and flooding.

body:
SADC EXPECTS a relatively
higher output of cereals and
other crops during the 2012/13
season amid indications that
some countries in the region are
poised for a good harvest this
year despite disruptions caused
by erratic rains and flooding.
Statistics released by the
Famine Early Warning System
Network (FEWSNET) show
that overall cereal production
in the region is projected at 33.7
metric tonnes for the 2012/13
season, marginally up from the
32.6 million tonnes recorded in
the previous year.
 
This is despite a two-percent
decline in cereal output in
the region’s largest producer,
South Africa, which is expected
to harvest just 14.2 million
tonnes this year compared to
14.6 million tonnes in 2011/12.
 
Cereal output in other
SADC Member States is projected
to have increased by
eight percent to 19.5 million
tonnes this year, thanks to an
anticipated significant rise in
production in Mozambique.
 
These figures exclude estimates
for the Democratic Republic
of Congo and
Madagascar.
 
In terms of maize production,
which is a staple food in
most SADC countries, the region’s
largest harvest is expected
from South Africa,
where estimates indicate a
commercial maize crop of 11.4
million tonnes, down three percent
from the 11.8 million
tonnes recorded during the
2011/12 season.
 
An additional 675,000
tonnes is projected to come
from the subsistence sector,
bringing South Africa’s maize
total supply to 12.12 million
tonnes.
 
The rest of the region’s
maize is expected to come from
Malawi, Mozambique and the
United Republic of Tanzania.
 
Crop estimates issued by
Zambia in May indicate that
maize production was 11 percent
below last year, but is still
six percent above its five-year
average.
 
Qualitative estimates from
Tanzania suggest that maize
production levels could be well
above the average for the past
five years, while in Mozambique,
estimates are at five-year
average levels.
 
In Zimbabwe where official
estimates are yet to be released,
qualitative analysis suggests
national cereal harvests could
drop by as much as three percent
below last year’s levels on
account of reduced crop yields,
and in some areas crop failure,
due to changing rainfall patterns
and a mid-season dry
spell in the southern and southwestern
parts of the country.
 
The just-ended 2012/13
rainfall season was generally
characterized by below average
rainfall in much of the southern
and western areas of the region,
with average to above-average
rainfall in northern and eastern
areas.
 
Parts of Lesotho, Malawi,
Mozambique, South Africa,
Zambia and Zimbabwe experienced
a delayed and erratic
start to the season and belownormal
rainfall performance
during the first half of the season
from October-December
2012. This resulted in some
famers not planting.
 
An early dry spell in November
caused early season
crop failure in parts of southern
Mozambique and southern
Zimbabwe, followed by largescale
replanting during rains in
December.
 
A region-wide armyworm
outbreak began in the first half
of the season, and affected
crops in several countries, including
Botswana, Lesotho,
Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania,
Zambia and Zimbabwe, although
the infestation was
contained in most areas.
 
Prolonged dry spells and
widespread torrential rains
were some of the major events
that affected crops during the
second half of the season.


Abstract:
THE UNITED Republic of Tanzania
aims to turn 350,000
hectares into productive farmland
to produce food crops for
both domestic and regional use.

body:
THE UNITED Republic of Tanzania
aims to turn 350,000
hectares into productive farmland
to produce food crops for
both domestic and regional use.
President Jakaya Kikwete said
the government has created the
Southern Agricultural Growth
Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT)
as a focal point for the
transformation of agriculture in
the country.
 
Tanzania has more than 44
million hectares of arable land
with climatic conditions that
are favourable for a variety of
crops. Only six million hectares
are currently being used.
 
“This corridor is well endowed
with land, good
weather and water. We want to
increase the production of rice,
maize, sugar, fruits, vegetables,
pulses, cut flowers and livestock
keeping,” he said. East
African Business Week


title:
SADC woos investors for its infrastructure programme

Abstract:
SADC WILL take its multi-billion-
dollar infrastructure development
plan to potential
funders when the region hosts
an investment conference at the
end of June in Mozambique.

body:
SADC WILL take its multi-billion-
dollar infrastructure development
plan to potential
funders when the region hosts
an investment conference at the
end of June in Mozambique.
The conference, scheduled
for Maputo from 27-28 June, is
expected to bring together
SADC heads of state and government,
ministers responsible
for Infrastructure, international
cooperating partners,
prospective investors including
multilateral financial institutions
such as the African
Development Bank and World
Bank, as well as representatives
of the African Union.
 
SADC leaders expected to
attend the conference are the
current chair, President Armando
Guebuza of Mozambique,
deputy SADC chair and
Malawian President Joyce
Banda, Angolan President Eduardo
dos Santos, and President
Jacob Zuma of South Africa.
 
Guebuza is expected to deliver
a keynote address before
delegates hold a high-level
roundtable discussion on various
thematic issues including
investment opportunities in
the SADC region based on the
master plan, participation by
the private sector and development
finance institutions, the
transport corridor concept and
border post operations as well
as the streamlining of gender
issues in infrastructure projects.
 
Another topical issue to be
discussed at the conference will
be the inclusion of island states
such as the Madagascar, Mauritius
and Seychelles in the SADC
regional infrastructure development
through specific projects
targeting these countries.
 
“SADC needs to be at the
forefront of the development
of the blue economy, and it is
only through investments in
maritime networks that we
will truly be able to boost trade
and development to its full potential
in this region,” said Seychelles
Foreign Affairs
Minister, Jean-Paul Adam.
 
The conference will seek
funding for a total of 418 infrastructure
projects identified by
SADC for development by
2027 in the six priority areas of
energy, transport, telecommunications,
tourism, meteorology
and water.
 
“The purpose of the SADC
Infrastructure Conference is to
lure potential investors into
the rolling-out of the Regional
Infrastructure Development
Master Plan Vision 2027, a 15-
year blueprint that will guide
the implementation of crossborder
infrastructure projects
between 2013 and 2027,” the
SADC Secretariat said in a
statement.
 
The SADC Regional Infrastructure
Development Master
Plan was approved by the
Heads of State and Government
at their 32nd Ordinary
Summit in August 2012 in Maputo,
Mozambique.
 
So far, priority infrastructure
projects at a cost of about
US$500 billion have been identified
and will be showcased at
the Maputo conference to mobilise
resources for their implementation.
 
The regional infrastructure
master plan is expected to
guide implementation of coordinated,
integrated, efficient,
transboundary infrastructure
network in the six priority
areas.
 
For example, the target for
the energy sector is to address
the four key areas of energy security,
improving access to
modern energy services, tapping
the abundant energy resources
in the continent and
up-scaling financial investment
whilst enhancing environmental
sustainability.
 
Regarding the water sector,
the plan prioritises strengthening
institutions, preparation of
bankable strategic water infrastructure
development projects,
increased water storage to
prepare for resilience against
climate change, increasing access
to safe drinking water;
and enhancing sanitation services
for SADC citizens.
 
With respect to the sub-sectors
of road, rail, ports, inland
waterways and air transport
networks, the transport sector
plan focuses on effective regulation
of transport services, liberalization
of transport markets,
development of corridors and
facilitation of cross-border
movement, construction of
missing regional transport
links, and harmonization of
road safety data systems.


title:
Southern Africa to harmonize railway standards

Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICA is planning
to harmonize its railway
services by setting a regional
railway common standard to
improve the transportation of
goods and passengers across
Member States.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICA is planning
to harmonize its railway
services by setting a regional
railway common standard to
improve the transportation of
goods and passengers across
Member States.
The Southern Africa Railway
Association (SARA) said harmonized
transportation will
promote the smooth movement
of goods and passengers, particularly
from Dar es Salaam in
the United Republic of Tanzania
using the Tanzania-Zambia
Railway (TAZARA) to the
Democratic Republic of Congo,
South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
 
TAZARA deputy managing
director, Damas Ndumbaro,
said a common railway gauge
will improve railway interconnectivity
in southern Africa.
 
At present, some rail lines
use different gauges, affecting
the smooth movement of
goods and services across
Member States.
 
“It is our hope that after all
the recommendations have
been passed by SARA, they will
then be forwarded to the SADC
Heads of State and Government
for approval,” Ndumbaro said
at a recent SARA meeting held
in Dar es Salaam.
 
The initiative to harmonize
railway service standards is in
line with the SADC Protocol on
Transport that requires Member
States to integrate their railway
services and establish corridor
management groups with the
objective of providing seamless,
predictable, efficient and costeffective
rail transport for the
SADC economy.


title:
Towards the sustainable use of water resources

Abstract:
SADC MINISTERS responsible
for the Water Sector met in
Luanda on 30 May, hosted by
the Angolan Minister of Energy
and Water, João Baptista
Borges.

body:
SADC MINISTERS responsible
for the Water Sector met in
Luanda on 30 May, hosted by
the Angolan Minister of Energy
and Water, João Baptista
Borges.
Borges emphasized the importance
of cooperation in the
management and development
of water resources for
the SADC region to realize regional
economic integration
and poverty alleviation, noting
that his government was
happy to host the meeting at a
time when the country is rehabilitating
various infrastructure.
 
The Ministers met to review
progress on implementation
of the third phase of the
Regional Strategic Action Plan
on Integrated Water Resources
Management and Development
(RSAP III)
2011-2015, which is the framework
to achieve the sustainable
development of water
resources through the development
of water infrastructure
on the basis of sound
water management and governance.
 
The management of water
resources in SADC is based on
the management of 15 shared
watercourses, and the ministers
reviewed the status of implementation
of projects in
various river basins including
the Okavango, Limpopo, Orange-
Senqu, Buzi, Save, Ruvuma,
Zambezi, Kunene,
Cuvelai, Incomati/Maputo
and Pungwe, commending the
state parties of the basins for
progress in implementation of
plans and projects.
 
The Ministers noted
progress especially in setting
up and commissioning of pilot
projects for Integrated Water
Resources Management
(IWRM) in Member States that
share the Orange-Senqu,
Limpopo, Buzi, Save and Ruvuma
river basins.
 
On the overall RSAP III implementation,
the Ministers
noted that remarkable progress
was registered under Water
Governance with the establishment
of the Zambezi Water
Commission (ZAMCOM) and
Limpopo Water Commission
(LIMCOM) organs.
 
The Ministers noted the establishment
of the Regional
Water and Sanitation Fund by
the SADC Secretariat to facilitate
implementation of priority
regional and cross-border
water infrastructure projects included
in the Regional Infrastructure
Development Master
Plan and urged Member States
to utilize the funds accordingly.
 
The SADC Secretariat delegation
was headed by Freddie
Motlhatlhedi, the Senior Programme
Officer for Energy in
the Directorate of Infrastructure
and Services, who highlighted
progress made by the
Water Sector in implementing
the RSAP III in the areas of
water governance, infrastructure
and management.
 
He said that river basin institutions
are being established
and strengthened, and priority
water infrastructure development
programmes are nearing
completion, adding that the
SADC needs a Water Sector
Plan that mainstreams gender
issues and is responsive to the
needs of the people.
 
The Ministers noted the
commendable work performed
by the staff from the
SADC Secretariat and urged
them to continue with the
same spirit.
 
SADC water ministers approved
priority activities for
the financial year 2014/15 as
the basis for development of
the Sector’s annual plan and
budget, and directed that implementation
should take
cognizance of the recommendations
of the Mid-Term Review
of the Regional
Indicative Strategic Plan
(RISDP) currently underway.
 
The RISDP is a 15-year plan
for regional integration and
development approved by
SADC Member States in 2003
and implemented in five-year
phases that commenced in
2005.
 
The Ministers noted that
the SADC Regional Infrastructure
Development Master Plan
2013-2027 was approved by
Summit in August 2012 and
urged Member States to facilitate
the implementation of the
strategic water infrastructure
projects in the master plan.
 
The water sector is one of
the six critical sectors in the
master plan, with a total of 34
projects to be implemented.
On the SADC Hydrological
Cycle Observing System, the
ministers stressed that Member
States have “the responsibility
to maintain the SADC
HYCOS stations as an integral
part of their national hydrological
network by ensuring
that adequate budget is made
available to operate the equipment.”
 
This is a regional component
of a World Meteorological
Organisation programme
to provide management tools
for sustainable and cost-effective
water resources development,
management and
environmental protection.
 
The meeting was attended
by 10 SADC Member States,
with the exception of the Democratic
Republic of Congo,
Malawi, Mauritius and Seychelles.
Madagascar is suspended
from SADC.
www.sadc.int


Abstract:
THE ZAMCOM Council of Ministers was constituted and held
its first meeting on 29 May in Luanda, chaired by Angola, and
agreed that Zimbabwe should host the permanent Secretariat
of the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM).

body:
THE ZAMCOM Council of Ministers was constituted and held
its first meeting on 29 May in Luanda, chaired by Angola, and
agreed that Zimbabwe should host the permanent Secretariat
of the Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM).
ZAMCOM is a river basin organization set up by countries
that share the Zambezi river basin to promote the equitable
and reasonable utilization of the water resources of the Zambezi
watercourse.
 
Zambia, the only country that has not yet signed the ZAMCOM
Agreement, told the meeting that it is ready to append
its signature and accede to the agreement. The other seven
basin states have signed the agreement, although Malawi has
not yet ratified.
 
The Zambezi basin stretches across part of eight SADC Member
States – Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique,
the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.


title:
Focus on the Zambezi
River Basin
ZAMCOM launches logo

Abstract:
THE ZAMBEZI Watercourse
Commission launched its logo
in Luanda, Angola, at an event
attended by SADC Water Ministers,
including those of the
newly constituted ZAMCOM
Council of Ministers.

body:
THE ZAMBEZI Watercourse
Commission launched its logo
in Luanda, Angola, at an event
attended by SADC Water Ministers,
including those of the
newly constituted ZAMCOM
Council of Ministers.
The logo outline represents
a traditional clay pot, a vessel
that signifies African heritage
and the spirit of sharing.
 
The concept of the pot denotes
a basin from a typical
African perspective, as a container
used for various community
purposes. The logo,
shaped in that manner, thus befits
the multi-purpose use of
the Zambezi river basin among
the riparian states.
 
The contentsof the pot
signify the essence of contemporary
transboundary management
driven by
multi-stakeholders.
 
The water outflow from the
vessel illustrates the common
shared resource that the Riparian
States aspire to manage equitably.
 
The droplet also indicates
the fullness of the Zambezi
river basin, with the water portraying
the abundant occurrence
of the resource which, if
well managed, would continue
filling up the pot to ensure a
sustainable availability to citizens
and the environment.
 
The black colour represents
the African continent; blue is
for water; green represents the
vegetation and environment;
and shade of brown represent
the basin’s geographical diversity.


title:
The Zambezi River Basin Atlas of the
Changing Environment

Abstract:
THE ZAMBEZI River Basin
Atlas of the Changing Environment
– the first of its kind in
southern Africa – was
launched in Luanda at the
meeting of SADC ministers responsible
for water.

body:
THE ZAMBEZI River Basin
Atlas of the Changing Environment
– the first of its kind in
southern Africa – was
launched in Luanda at the
meeting of SADC ministers responsible
for water.
Speaking at the launch, the
Director General in the Angolan
Ministry of Energy and
Water, Manual Quintino, said
decision-makers and other
stakeholders in the Zambezi
basin states will find the Atlas
useful in helping them to craft
and develop policies that are
sustainable and protect
ecosystem services.
 
“The production of the
Atlas is based on the principle
that informed action is rooted
in the use of sound knowledge,”
he said.
 
The Atlas uses satellite images,
high resolution photographs,
illustrative text and
graphics to present various
socio-economic issues in the
Zambezi basin, and provides
striking evidence that can be
used as a basis for intervention
at local, national, regional and
basin levels.
 
Satellite images show that
the basin has undergone
major environmental changes
in the past 20 years, including
land degradation, loss of
forests, expansion of urban
and mining areas as well as
the spread of alien plant
species.
 
The Atlas is a collaborative
initiative produced for the
SADC Water Division, the Interim
Secretariat of the Zambezi
Watercourse Commission
(ZAMCOM) and Zambezi
River basin stakeholders by the
I. Musokotwane Environment
Resource Centre for Southern
Africa (IMERCSA), which is
the environment institute of the
Southern African Research and
Documentation Centre
(SARDC), and UNEP GRIDArendal.


Abstract:
ZAMBEZI BASIN states have
commenced a process to produce
a Zambezi Environment
Outlook that is expected to provide
an integrated analysis of
the environment, water resources
and socio-economic issues
in the basin, and introduce
new and emerging issues.

body:
ZAMBEZI BASIN states have
commenced a process to produce
a Zambezi Environment
Outlook that is expected to provide
an integrated analysis of
the environment, water resources
and socio-economic issues
in the basin, and introduce
new and emerging issues.
Experts from the eight countries
that share the basin met in
Windhoek, Namibia, in mid-
May for a consultative conference
to discuss the content of
the next Outlook report, following
the widely acknowledged
State of Environment Zambezi
Basin 2000 published in English
and Portuguese.
 
This was the first environmental
assessment of a single
ecosystem in southern Africa.
 
Officially opening the conference,
the Namibian Minister
of Agriculture, Water and
Forestry, John Mutorwa, said
climate change and variability
have brought drastic changes
to the environment in the
Zambezi River basin during
the past decade.
 
“We, thus, need to urgently
find appropriate strategies, individually
and collectively, to
sustain and protect these resources
so that they continue
to meet the current needs as
well as those of generations to
come,” Mutorwa said.
 
The consultative conference
agreed on the outline of the report
to be published in 2015, including
chapters on water
resources; land and agriculture;
biodiversity and forests; climate
change and variability; energy
and infrastructure; urbanization
and human settlements;
tourism; and industrial development.
 
The report will contain possible
scenarios for the Zambezi
basin environment, projecting
possible future trends and impact
on resources, and possible
interventions.
 
The Executive Secretary of
the Interim Zambezi Watercourse
Commission (ZAMCOM),
Michael Mutale, said,
“This is a momentous occasion
since it is the beginning of
a consultative process that will
lead to the production of a report
that will at the end of the
day be owned by all.”
 
Stretching across part of
eight SADC Member States, the
basin is a source of livelihood
for many of the people in those
countries who depend on basin
for socio-economic activities
ranging from agriculture and
forestry, mining, to conservation
and tourism.
 
Human pressure on natural
resources coupled with climate
change has resulted in
inevitable impact in the basin,
affecting socio-economic development.
 
The conference was organized
by the I. Musokotwane Environment
Resource Centre for
Southern Africa (IMERCSA),
which is the environment institute
of the Southern African Research
and Documentation
Centre (SARDC). The Zambezi
Environment Outlook is an initiative
of the ZAMCOM and
the SADC Water Division, with
support from GIZ, Australian
Aid and UK Aid.


title:
SADC Renewable Energy Strategy and Action Plan
Key to ensuring sustainable energy for all

Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICA has the potential to achieve universal access
to modern energy services if the region puts in place a sound
and vibrant strategy to properly harness its renewable energy resources.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICA has the potential to achieve universal access
to modern energy services if the region puts in place a sound
and vibrant strategy to properly harness its renewable energy resources.
The SADC Energy Ministers meeting in Maseru, Lesotho, said
the development of a renewable energy strategy will ensure that the
SADC region is able to effectively manage and exploit its abundant
natural resources.
 
Member states should thus advance the process of finalizing the
SADC Renewable Energy Strategy and Action Plan (RESAP) that
was discussed a few years ago.
 
“We note that renewable energy is an integral part of the United
Nations Sustainable Energy for All Initiative and urge member
states, assisted by the SADC Secretariat, to mobilize resources to finalize
the SADC Renewable Energy Strategy and Action,” the energy
ministers said in a statement released after their meeting.
 
The objective of RESAP, initiated by the SADC secretariat with
the government of Finland, is to explore options to increase the use
of renewable energy in southern Africa, and to ensure that the regional
energy strategy is aligned with global trends towards clean
and alternative energy sources.
 
Renewable energy sources, including solar, hydro and wind, are
less polluting to the environment compared to fossil fuels such as
coal.
 
Furthermore, fossil fuels will not last forever, hence the need for
southern Africa to prepare for the future and intensify efforts to harness
its huge renewable energy resources.
 
SADC has an abundance of renewable energy sources, which if
fully harnessed, will see the region being able to meet most of its
energy needs.
 
For example, the overall hydropower potential in SADC countries
is estimated at about 1,080 terawatt hours per year (TWh/year)
but capacity being utiliz-ed at present is just under 31 TWh/year. A
terawatt is equal to one million megawatts.
 
According to the SADC Secretariat, most countries have harnessed
only a small fraction of their hydropower resources, and less
than three percent of the total regional potential has been harnessed.
 
With regard to geothermal, the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) and the Global Environment Facility estimate
that about 4,000MW of electricity is available
along the Rift Valley in the United Republic of Tanzania,
Malawi and Mozambique.
 
An increase in the uptake of renewable
energy would ensure that SADC is able to
achieve a sustainable renewable energy
mix in the regional energy grid.
 
The Southern African Power Pool
(SAPP) – which coordinates the planning,
generation and transmission of
electricity on behalf of member state
utilities in SADC – expects to
achieve a renewable energy mix in
the regional energy grid of at least 32
percent of the total energy produced
by 2020, which should rise to 35 percent
by 2030.
 
Southern Africa currently generates
about 74 percent of its electricity from coalpowered
stations. Except for hydropower
that accounts for about 20 percent of SADC’s
total energy generation, other renewables such as wind and solar
are not considered as major contributors to the region’s electricity
needs.
 
The SADC Energy Ministers urged member states and the Secretariat
to complete a feasibility study of establishing a centre of excellence
for renewable energy and energy efficiency in the region.
The proposed centre would, among other things, lead in the promotion
of renewable energy development in the region.
 
The ministers resolved to fast track implementation of all interconnector
and regional transmission projects to relieve congestion
on the regional grid to facilitate electricity trading.
 
These projects include the Zimbabwe-Zambia-Botswana-
Namibia (ZiZaBoNa) transmission project, and the
Mozambique/Malawi Interconnector.
Others are the Zambia/Tanzania/Kenya and the Namibia/Angola
interconnectors.
 
The ministers noted that a total of 11 of the 15 SADC countries
have introduced regulatory bodies in the form of energy or electricity
regulatory agencies while the remaining member states
are at different stages of the process.
 
The meeting also hailed the approval of the
SADC Regional Infrastructure Development
Master Plan (RIDMP), saying it will help to
attract key investment into the energy
sector, which is one of the six priority
areas of the plan.
 
The Energy Sector Plan seeks
to address four key energy security
areas – improving access to modern
energy services, tapping the abundant
energy resources, increasing financial
investment, and enhancing
environmental sustainability.
 
The 33rd SADC Energy Ministers
meeting was attended by the acting
Prime Minister of Lesotho, Thesele
Maseribane, the SADC Director of infrastructure
and services, Remigious
Makumbe, and other energy experts from
the region. sardc.net


title:
Malawi, Mozambique sign power
interconnection agreement

Abstract:
MALAWI AND Mozambique have signed a power interconnection
agreement to enable Malawi to draw electricity from the massive
Cahora Bassa dam in Mozambique.

body:
MALAWI AND Mozambique have signed a power interconnection
agreement to enable Malawi to draw electricity from the massive
Cahora Bassa dam in Mozambique.
Under the agreement, signed by Mozambican President Armando
Guebuza and Malawian President Joyce Banda, the interconnection
will be done in two phases.
 
The first phase will involve constructing system and transmitters
that will take electricity from Matambo Substation in Tete, Mozambique,
to Phombeya in Balaka, Malawi. The second and last phase
will include systems to extend the connection back to Nampula and
Nacala provinces in Mozambique through Malawi.
 
Mozambique is expected to finance the 200 km power connection
from Tete to Balaka while Malawi will finance the 800 km extension
of the connection from Balaka to Nacala.


title:
Six firms shortlisted for Batoka power project

Abstract:
THE ZAMBEZI River Authority
has shortlisted six international
companies for the construction
of the Batoka Gorge hydropower
station.

body:
THE ZAMBEZI River Authority
has shortlisted six international
companies for the construction
of the Batoka Gorge hydropower
station.
The ZRA, a statutory body
owned jointly by Zambia and
Zimbabwe and responsible for
managing the Zambezi River, invited
applications in December
2012 from experienced companies
to bid for the construction
of the hydropower station. The
deadline for bids was 8 February
this year.
 
“Initially, the authority shortlisted
26 international investors,
but they have been whittled
down to six,” said Patson Mbiriri,
permanent secretary in the Zimbabwean
Ministry of Energy and
Power Development, during the
Zimbabwe-South Africa Investment
and Trade Conference held
in April.
 
Mbiriri said the contract
would be awarded on a Build,
Operate and Transfer basis but
gave no timeframe for the
awarding the contract.
 
Located on the Zambezi
River, about 54 km downstream
of Victoria Falls between Zambia
and Zimbabwe, the proposed 
power station is expected
to produce up to 1,600
megawatts (MW), which would
make a significant contribution
towards meeting energy needs
in both countries and the SADC
region.
 
Zambia and Zimbabwe will
share the power equally, but as
the two countries are members
of the Southern African Power
Pool (SAPP), much of the electricity
would be fed into the regional
power grid.
 
This would allow the installed
capacity at the planned
station to be realized across the
SADC region. All mainland
SADC Member States with the
exception of Angola, Malawi
and Tanzania, are interconnected
through SAPP.


Abstract:
SADC HAS revised to 2017 the target for eradication of an electricity
deficit that has affected the region since 2007.

body:
SADC HAS revised to 2017 the target for eradication of an electricity
deficit that has affected the region since 2007.
SADC energy ministers meeting in Lesotho in May noted that
about 17,000 megawatts (MW) of new generation is expected to be
commissioned between 2013 and 2016.
 
At least three percent of the planned generation capacity between
2013 and 2016 should be renewable energy from wind and solar.
The ministers expressed confidence that the region will have sufficient
generation capacity reserves after 2016.
 
They noted that the region plans to commission some 2,000MW
of power in 2013 and “that it will have sufficient generation capacity
reserves after 2016 if all projects are commissioned as planned, while
energy adequacy will be achieved by 2017.”
 
The previous energy adequacy target was 2014 but progress has
been hampered by the slow implementation of priority energy projects,
mainly due to lack of funds.
 
The ministers resolved to provide necessary government support
to accelerate project implementation and press for completion of
electricity projects according to the planned timelines to ensure that
the stated targets are met.
 
On electricity tariffs, the ministers said the region will not be able
to comply with the decision of the SADC Council of Ministers to
reach full cost recovery tariffs by the end of 2013.
 
They “noted that most Member States have embarked on a process
to do so and urged Member States that have not taken the necessary
steps towards cost recovery tariffs to do so as soon as possible and develop
a roadmap by November 2013,” the ministers said.


title:
Tanzania deploys troops for DRC intervention brigade

Abstract:
THE UNITED Republic of
Tanzania was one of the first
countries to contribute soldiers
to the United Nations intervention
brigade to
neutralize armed groups in
eastern Democratic Republic
of Congo.

body:
THE UNITED Republic of
Tanzania was one of the first
countries to contribute soldiers
to the United Nations intervention
brigade to
neutralize armed groups in
eastern Democratic Republic
of Congo.
A contingent of Tanzanian
soldiers arrived in the eastern
DRC city of Goma in May as
part of the intervention
brigade authorized by the
United Nations to help to return
stability this volatile part
of the country.
 
In March the Security
Council authorized the deployment
of an intervention
brigade within the existing
UN Organisation Stabilisation
Mission in the DRC
(MONUSCO) to carry out targeted
offensive operations,
with or without the Congolese
national army, against armed
groups that threaten peace in
eastern DRC.
 
The brigade – which will be
based in North Kivu province
and total 3,069 military personnel
– is tasked with neutralizing
the armed groups,
reducing the threat posed to
State authority and civilian security,
creating space for stabilization
activities.
 
The UN brigade, commanded
by General James
Mwakibolwa of Tanzania, is expected
to take all necessary
measures to protect civilians
and monitor implementation of
the arms embargo established
through various resolutions.
 
Eight other SADC Member
States have pledged personnel
to be deployed in DRC.These
are Angola, Lesotho, Malawi,
Mauritius, Namibia, South
Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
 
The DRC slid into political
turmoil last year when antigovernment
rebels calling
themselves the March 23
(M23) Movement invaded and
captured the city of Goma,
causing the displacement of
people and loss of lives and
property.
 
The rebels have since
threatened to march on Kinshasa,
the capital of the vast,
mineral-rich country.
 
SADC has welcomed the
adoption of the UN Security
Council resolution formalising
the launch of intervention
brigade in eastern DRC.
 
“Summit welcomed the
adoption of the United Nations
Security Council Resolution
2098 of 28 March 2013
which provides the mandate
for the deployment of the Intervention
Brigade in the Eastern
DRC under the auspices of
MONUSCO,” SADC leaders
said following an Extraordinary
Summit held on the sidelines
of the 21st African Union
summit in Ethiopia in May.
 
The leaders received a
progress report on the deployment
of the intervention
brigade in eastern DRC and
commended Member States
that have pledged to contribute
troops.
 
SADC leaders meeting at
Summit in August 2012 noted
that the disturbance in DRC is
being perpetrated by rebel
groups with assistance of
Rwanda and urged that country
to cease immediately its interference
“that constitutes a
threat to peace and stability,
not only of the DRC, but also
of the SADC region.”


Abstract:
THE AFRICAN Union has
approved the creation of a military
rapid-reaction force to
deal with coups, rebellions or
wars in a move intended to reduce
the continent’s reliance
on foreign funds and troops
for its defence.

body:
THE AFRICAN Union has
approved the creation of a military
rapid-reaction force to
deal with coups, rebellions or
wars in a move intended to reduce
the continent’s reliance
on foreign funds and troops
for its defence.
The African Capacity for
Immediate Response to Crises
(ACIRC) will be set up as an
interim measure pending the
establishment of an African
Standby Force (ASF), expected
to be operational by 2015.
 
The force, proposed by
South African President Jacob
Zuma, was one of the key outcomes
of the 21st Ordinary
Session of the AU held in
Ethiopia in May.
 
“The Assembly recalled the
challenges encountered in the
operationalization of the
African Standby Force and its
Rapid Deployment Capability
and decided in principle to
immediately establish, as a
transitional arrangement and
pending the full operationalization
of the ASF
and its RDC, an African
Capacity for Immediate
Response to Crises, to provide
the AU with a flexible
and robust force,” reads part
of the communiqué from the
AU summit.
 
The initiative will provide
African countries with the
flexibility to take concrete
measures to address challenges
in the interim while
awaiting the operationalising
of the African Standby Force.
 
The proposal is in response
to the ongoing challenges of
peace and security that undermine
democratically elected
governments.
 
The AU does not have such
an immediate response mechanism
at present as the process
of implementing the African
Peace and Security architecture
is ongoing.
 
The AU Assembly decision
said the rapid response force
would be formed from voluntary
contributions of troops,
funds and equipment by
member states.
 
According to the AU Peace
and Security Commissioner,
Ramtane Lamamra, the individual
countries supplying
troops and equipment would
be responsible for paying for
the deployment.
 
“We are not going to take it
from the AU budget. We are
not going to ask for partners to
fund these operations,” he
said.
 
South Africa, Uganda and
Ethiopia pledged to contribute
towards the force while several
other countries volunteered
support.
 
The size of the ACIRC will
depend upon the contributions.


Abstract:
THE 21ST Ordinary Session
of the African Union met in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the
historic date of the founding
of the Organisation of African
Unity 50 years ago, to deliberate
on current challenges and
achievements.

body:
THE 21ST Ordinary Session
of the African Union met in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on the
historic date of the founding
of the Organisation of African
Unity 50 years ago, to deliberate
on current challenges and
achievements.
With the theme of “Pan-
Africanism and African Ren
aissance”, the Heads of State
and Government made a commitment
to strengthen efforts
to deepen integration and promote
socio-economic development.
 
The leaders pledged to accelerate
the development of
infrastructure, as a critical
component of the African integration
and industrialization
agenda, and to develop rural
economies. They also agreed
that the continent should take
ownership of, use and develop
natural resources for the
benefit of the people.
 
On advancing African
identity and Renaissance,
Summit pledged to integrate
the principles of pan-Africanism
“in all our policies and initiatives”
and to “promote and
harmonize the teaching of
African history, values and
Pan-Africanism in all schools
and educational institutions.”
 
African countries are engaged
global negotiations to
reconstruct world affairs to ensure
a more equitable system,
and the leaders pledged to act
collectively to promote “our
common interests and positions
on the international
arena.”
 
The AU Summit also agreed
to ensure financial sustainability
and reduce dependency on
external resources by creating a
mechanism to ensure that the
AU Commission is “provided
with adequate and predictable
resources to enable it to fund its
programmes.”
 
This was the recommended
by the report of a High-Level
Panel chaired by former
Nigerian President Olusegun
Obasanjo, which was approved
by Summit. The report
proposes to consider increasing
contributions by Member
States and setting up a voluntary
contribution fund open to
the private sector.
 
The Summit was held on
25-27 May to commemorate
the founding of the OAU on
25 May 1963, now Africa Day.
 
(see page 16)
The OAU was established
to support the liberation of the
continent from colonialism
and apartheid, a feat which
was achieved by 1994. Its successor,
the African Union was
established in 2002 to focus on
economic development and
integration.


body:
Speedily implement the Continental Free Trade Area to
promote the smooth movement of goods, services and
people across the continent;

Harmonize the teaching of African history, values and
pan-Africanism in all schools and educational institutions;

Take ownership of, use and develop our natural resources
for the benefit of our people;

Accelerate Africa’s infrastructure development, and develop
our rural economies;

Continue to speak with one voice and act collectively to
promote our common interests in the international arena;

Take ownership of African issues and provide African solutions
to African problems;

Address emerging sources of conflict to promote peace
and stability on the continent.


title:
A more positive approach as
Africa prepares for post-2015 development agenda

Abstract:
AN AFRICAN common position
on the post-2015 global
development agenda will be
developed to ensure that the
continent’s aspirations are included.

body:
AN AFRICAN common position
on the post-2015 global
development agenda will be
developed to ensure that the
continent’s aspirations are included.
The post-2015 development
agenda builds on the momentum
generated by the Millennium
Development Goals
(MDGs), which target 2015 for
completion.
 
Consultations among governments,
civil society and private
sector are ongoing on the
post-2015 agenda, which is expected
to reflect new development
challenges
and emerging
issues such as
c l i m a t e
change.
 
The general recommendation
from Africa is that the post-
2015 development agenda
should consider the initial
conditions of countries, and
recognize national efforts towards
meeting the MDGs,
rather than measuring how far
they fall short.
 
At their 21st Ordinary Session
of the African Union
Summit, African leaders
agreed to speak with a “one
voice” and have tasked the
AU Commission to engage
member states with a view to
developing the African Common
Position on the Post-2015
Development Agenda “for
consideration during the next
Summit to be held in January
2014.”
 
The leaders The AU Commission
is expected to set up a
technical working group to
translate the African priorities
for the post-2015 agenda into
goals, targets and specific indicators
for inclusion in the
process towards Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs).
 
The leaders established a
High-Level Committee of
Heads of State and Government
to coordinate the activities
of members states, and to
build regional and inter-continental
alliances in this regard.
 
The Committee, headed by
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf
of Liberia, is tasked to report
annually on the
implementation of the new
development agenda by member
states.
 
On the MDGs, the leaders
noted some progress towards
attaining the goals by 2015, an
assessment supported by a recent
report saying that Africa
is one of the leaders in its efforts
to implement the goals.
 
However, due to a variety of
factors, including finance and
conflict, some countries are
still not on track to meet the
desired targets, with only two
years to go.
 
Eight MDGs were adopted
in 2000 by the global community,
ranging from education,
health, poverty, and the environment,
and seeking to reduce
poverty, hunger, disease,
maternal and child deaths and
other ills by 2015.


title:
Zimbabwe prepares to hold harmonized elections

Abstract:
PRESIDENT ROBERT Mugabe
has signed the Constitution
of Zimbabwe Amendment
(Number 20) Bill into law,
paving the way for the holding
of harmonized elections this
year.

body:
PRESIDENT ROBERT Mugabe
has signed the Constitution
of Zimbabwe Amendment
(Number 20) Bill into law,
paving the way for the holding
of harmonized elections this
year.
The new Constitution was
overwhelmingly approved in a
referendum in March 2013 to
replace the 1979 Lancaster
House Constitution that had
been amended 19 times.
 
Following the historic passing
into law of the new Constitution,
the Zimbabwe Electoral
Commission (ZEC) has begun
updating its voter registration
and preparations for voter education.
 
The ZEC chairperson, Justice
Rita Makarau, said voter
registration would take place in
every ward and voter educators
would be deployed ahead
of the registration exercise.
 
The eagerly awaited elections
have been called for 31 July, following
a Constitutional Court
ruling that elections must be
held by that date. If there is no
outright winner of the presidential
election, a run-off will be
held on 11 September.
 
The nomination court will sit
on 28 June to receive nomination
papers from prospective candidates.
 
Mugabe also gazetted
amendments to the Electoral
Act in line with the new Constitution.
 
Election observers from the
African Union have already
been deployed in the country.
 
A SADC Extraordinary Summit
held in Maputo, Mozambique
in June has asked the
Zimbabwean government to
apply to the Constitutional
Court for a short extension beyond
31 July of the date for holding
the harmonized elections,
following concerns by some parties
that there is not enough time
to implement outstanding issues
before the poll date.
 
The harmonized elections
include presidential, parliamentary
and local elections.
 
Under the new Constitution,
the National Assembly comprises
270 members, with 210
elected by secret ballot and 60
women elected by proportional
representation – six each from
the country’s 10 administrative
provinces.
 
The senate will have 80
members elected through proportional
representation based
on party lists, which lists must
alternate women and men candidates
on a “zebra” system,
starting with a woman.
 
Executive authority remains
vested in the President, who is
Head of State and Government
and Commander-in-Chief of
the Defence Forces.


title:
“Need for peaceful elections in Madagascar”

Abstract:
SOUTHERN AFRICA has expressed
concern over the recent
political developments in Madagascar
in the run-up to the presidential
elections set for July.

body:
SOUTHERN AFRICA has expressed
concern over the recent
political developments in Madagascar
in the run-up to the presidential
elections set for July.
Madagascar, which slid into
a political turmoil in March
2009 when the then opposition
leader Andry Rajoelina seized
power from President Marc
Ravalomanana, is expected to
hold landmark elections this
year to give the island nation a
fresh start after four years of
constitutional crisis.
 
However, recent developments
in the country could once
again impact on the political
healing process following the
refusal of key political players
to abide by earlier decisions regarding
the forthcoming presidential
election.
 
For example, Rajoelina and
Ravalomanana – the two
main rivals in the Madagascan
political landscape –
had initially agreed not to
stand in the July presidential
elections to prevent
any repeat of the
turmoil that accompanied
the 2009 coup.
 
Rajoelina has since ignored a
request by SADC not to run in
the upcoming elections, and
filed his nomination papers with
the Special Electoral Court.
 
Ravalomanana has backed
his wife, Lalao Ravalomanana,
to stand in the forthcoming
election.
 
“Summit has expressed its
displeasure on the decision of
H.E. Rajoelina to renege on his
earlier undertaking not to stand
in the forthcoming Presidential
election as reflected in the SADC
Dar es Salaam Declaration of 16
January 2013,” the SADC Troika
of the Organ on Politics, Defence
and Security Cooperation said in
a statement.
 
Meeting in Cape Town, South
Africa in early May, the SADC
Troika said it was also disap-
pointed with the unwise decision
of Ravalomanana to present his
wife as a presidential candidate.
 
The Troika said the Special
Electoral Court should not have
endorsed illegitimate candidatures
for the forthcoming Presidential
elections, as this was in
violation of the Malagasy Constitution
and the Electoral Law.
 
“Summit urged H.E. Andry
Rajoelina, former President Didier
Ratsiraka and Madam
Lalao Ravalomanana to consider
withdrawing their candidatures
to ensure peaceful
conduct of elections and stability
in Madagascar.”
 
Ratsiraka is a former Malagasy
president who was ousted
from power by Ravalomanana
in a similar method to that used
by Rajoelina in 2009.
 
In a bid to address the situation
in Madagascar, SADC has
led mediation efforts bringing
together the key political leaders
to agree on a lasting solution
to the challenges facing the island
nation. Former Mozambican
president Joaquim
Chissano is the SADC mediator.
 
The presidential election in
Madagascar is scheduled for 24
July, according to the Independent
National Election Commission
of the Transition. If there is
no outright winner, a run-off
has been set for 25 September.
 
As per tradition, a SADC
Election Observer Mission will
monitor the elections in Madagascar.
 
The mission will monitor
the electoral process in three
phases through the pre-referendum,
the referendum and the
post-referendum period.
 
After the elections, SADC will
release a draft report on how the
process was conducted. This is in
line with the SADC Principles
and Guidelines Governing Democratic
Elections, which encourage
member states to promote
common political values and
systems.


body:
June
1-3, Japan 

5th Tokyo International Conference on African Development

TICAD is a summit on African development co-organized
by the Japanese government, United Nations, World Bank,
and the African Union Commission. This year’s conference
is expected to discuss ways to accelerate African economic
growth. Other issues include progress towards meeting the
2015 Millennium Development Goals.

10-14, Kenya 

20th Conference of African Ministers of Industry

The conference will bring together African ministers responsible
for industrial development, industrialists, academics,
UN agencies and non-governmental organisations to brainstorm
on key issues for African industrial development
within the post-2015 development context.
 

18-20, Spain 

Africa Energy Forum 2013

The Forum is the annual meeting place for global energy
players and African governments, utilities and regulators to
engage in dialogue aimed at collectively driving forward the
development of power sector on the continent. It is held in
a different European city every year, enabling international
investors to meet with Africa’s key stakeholders.
 

18-21, Tanzania 

Ministerial Committee of the Organ

The meeting will deliberate on a number of issues aimed at
promoting peace and security in the SADC region. The committee
is made up of the ministers responsible for foreign affairs,
defence, public security and state security from the
countries that make up the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence
and Security Cooperation.
 

24-25, Botswana 

27th Meeting of Water Strategic Reference Group

The Water Strategy Reference Group is responsible for the
thematic coordination of key intervention areas in the SADC
water sector. It serves as a forum for coordinating water-related
activities in the SADC region to avoid overlaps and
achieve maximum synergies and complementarities.
 

26-28, Mozambique 

SADC Infrastructure Investment Summit

The conference will seek to attract potential investors for the
SADC regional infrastructure development programme. This
will be followed by presentations in Asia, Europe and the
United States for the same purpose.
 

July
18-19, Mauritius 

5th International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts
and Responses

The conference seeks to create an interdisciplinary forum
for evidence of climate change, the causes, and eco-systemic
and human impacts. It will explore the technological,
policy, strategic and social responses to climate change.
 

August
17-18, Malawi 

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 the Council of Ministers.
 

24-29, Zambia/ Zimbabwe 

20th UNWTO General Assembly

The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the United
Nations World Tourism Organization and the most important
meeting of senior tourism officials and high-level representatives
of the private sector from all over the world. Its
ordinary sessions are held every two years. This is the second
time that the Assembly will be held in Africa, jointly
hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls/Mosi oa
Tunya, to promote tourism in SADC.
 

TBA 

Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum

Scientists from the national meteorological services in SADC
Member States meet to review the regional climate outlook.
They will use indicators of seasonal rainfall to produce a regional
forecast for the 2013/14 rainfall season.


Abstract:
THE CELEBRATION of Africa Day
this year marked a significant date in
the history of the continent.

body:
THE CELEBRATION of Africa Day
this year marked a significant date in
the history of the continent.
It was 50 years ago, on 25 May 1963,
that the few leaders of independent
Africa countries – inspired by the
ideals of Pan-Africanism to promote
common understanding among the
peoples of Africa and foster greater cooperation
between African countries in
a larger unity transcending ethnic and
national differences – signed the Charter
establishing the Organization of
African Unity (OAU).
 
The OAU was the predecessor to the
African Union (AU), which was inaugurated
in Durban, South Africa, in
2002, by the Constitutive Act of the
African Union.
 
The official golden jubilee celebration
took place at the AU’s smart, new
headquarters in the Ethiopian capital,
Addis Ababa, the same city that hosted
the inaugural summit in 1963, giving
hope to many African countries which
at the time were still battling with colonialism
and apartheid.
 
Interspersed with short messages
from current and former African leaders,
including Zambia’s founding President
Dr Kenneth Kaunda, AU
Commission Chairperson Dr
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and the
Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam
Desalegn, the audience was
treated to a programme of African traditional
performances and cultural
items.
 
Kaunda, who was present at the
signing of the OAU Charter in 1963 although
his country was not yet independent,
animated the cultural evening
with a message to the new generation
and a song in honour of women that
aroused a lot of emotion and determination
from the crowd.
 
He challenged African leaders to
emulate the vision of the OAU founding
leaders to end the continent’s dependence
on foreign powers.
 
AU leaders took time to reflect on
the need to refocus on the shared val-
ues such as self-reliance.
 
Desalegn, speaking
as the current
AU chairperson,
said Africans
should look forward
to “create a
continent free from
poverty and conflict.”
 
“While our
founders met for the
formation of the OAU at the dawn of
the independence period 50 years ago,
it is fitting that we are meeting here
today at a time when Africa is rising,”
Desalegn said.
 
Celebrations were held in many AU
member states under the theme “Pan
Africanism and African Renaissance”,
starting on 25 May and are expected to
last for a year.
 
From musical concerts in Australia,
South Africa and the United States to
arts exhibitions in Ireland, Angola and
Zimbabwe, Africans on the continent
and in the Diaspora reflected on the
road they have travelled towards securing
unity, prosperity and peace.
 
The AU has identified 12 challenges
that will be addressed during the next
12 months.These include priority areas
such as education, health, food security,
empowerment of women, peace
and security, and governance and
democracy.
 
“When we, therefore, talk about
African solutions to African problems,
it is because we know that we can only
permanently silence the guns if we act
in solidarity and unity,” said Dlamini-
Zuma.
 
Activities are planned for the whole
year to celebrate the 50th anniversary,
lasting until May 2014. These include
musical events, debates, media conferences,
and competitions in schools and
universities, public opinion surveys,
sessions in local and national legislatures
to raise awareness about the ideas
of Pan-Africanism.


body:
“WE MUST be able to resolve
conflicts that occur on
our continent and deal with
them amicably where they
occur. The continent has
made some strides but for
Africa to prosper, we have
to solve our current problems.
You are Africa’s
hope,” former Zambian
President Kenneth Kaunda
said in an address during
commemorations to mark
50 years since the formation
of the Organisation of
African Unity.


title:
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN SADC
June – August 2013

body:
1 June International Children’s Day Angola
5 June Liberation Day Seychelles
16 June Youth Day South Africa
18 June National Day Seychelles
23 June Corpus Christi Seychelles
25 June Independence Day Mozambique
26 June Independence Day Madagascar
29 June Independence Day Seychelles
30 June Independence Day DRC
1 July Sir Seretse Khama Day Botswana
Heroes Day Zambia
2 July Unity Day Zambia
6 July Independence Day Malawi
7 July Saba Saba Industry Day Tanzania
15 July President’s Day Botswana
16 July Public Holiday Botswana
17 July King’s Birthday Lesotho
22 July Birthday of late King Sobhuza Swaziland
1 August Parents Day DRC
5 August Farmers Day Zambia
7 August Eid Ul Fitri* Malawi, Mauritius,
Tanzania
8 August Nane Nane Peasant Day Tanzania
9 August National Women’s Day South Africa
12 August Heroes Day Zimbabwe
13 August Defence Forces Day Zimbabwe
15 August Assumption Day Madagascar, Mauritius,
Seychelles
17 August SADC Day** All
26 August Heroes Day Namibia
* Exact date depends on sighting of the new moon
** SADC Day is not a public holiday but a commemoration of signing
the SADC Treaty on 17 August


