# tblSANF

title:
Mozambican President Guebuza new SADC chair

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

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


title:
SADC creates fund to accelerate infrastructure development

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

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


title:
Companies bid for Shire-Zambezi waterway feasibility study

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

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


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

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

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


title:
Interconnectors - conduits for SADC energy integration

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


title:
Botswana, Mozambique to build deepwater port

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

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


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

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

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


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

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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


title:
Art as a Vector for regional integration

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

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


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


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

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

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

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

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

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


Member States to organize joint staging
during international


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

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


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

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

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


title:
Angolan polls boost SADC profile as stable economy

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

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


body:
October
1-5, South Africa 

24th African Hydro Symposium

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

12-13, Ethiopia

 Second China-Africa Think Tanks Forum

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

 33rd SAPP Executive Committee Meeting

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

 13th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium

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

International Conference on Fresh Water Governance
for Sustainable Development

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

  
5-9, Namibia 

10th RERA Anniversary Celebrations

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

 Rural Electrification Forum 2012

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

COP 18 Summit on Climate Change

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


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

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


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

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


title:
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN SADC
October-December 2012

body:
4 October Peace and National Mozambique
Reconciliation Day

4 October Independence Day Lesotho

14 October Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Day Tanzania

15 October Mother’s Day Malawi

24 October Independence Day Zambia

1 November All Saints Day Seychelles,

Madagascar,

Mauritius

2 November Remembrance Day Angola

11 November National Independence Day Angola

12 November Public Holiday Angola

8 December Immaculate Conception Seychelles

9 December Independence Day Tanzania

10 December International Human Namibia
Rights Day

16 December Day of Reconciliation South Africa

17 December Public Holiday South Africa

22 December National Unity Day Zimbabwe

25 December Christmas All SADC

26 December Day of Goodwill South Africa

Family Day Namibia

Boxing Day Botswana,

Lesotho,

Swaziland,

Tanzania,

Zimbabwe


title:
Energy Sector Plan targets surplus, sets priorities

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

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

ensuring energy security;

improving access to modern energy services;

tapping the abundant energy resources;
and,

achieving financial investment and environmental
sustainability.


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


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

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


Proposed funding mechanisms


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

Institutional structures/monitoring and evaluation mechanisms


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


Sectoral project committees

Sub-sectoral committees

Committees of senior officials

Sectoral ministerial committees

Infrastructure ministers committee

Council of Ministers

Summit.


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

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


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

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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


title:
"Unity is key to continental development"

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

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


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

energy

transport

tourism

information
technology

meteorology

water.


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


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

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


title:
SADC launches new plan for regional peace and security

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


title:
Africa adopts Arusha Declaration on sustainable development

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

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


Ecosystem-Based Adaptation
Programme for Africa;

African Programme on
Sustainable Energy Development;

Integrated Waste Management
Programme for
Africa;

Africa Integrated Environmental
Assessment for Sustainable
Development
Planning;

African Programme on
Biodiversity and Ecosystems;

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

A sustainable land management
and desertification
programme in Africa.


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


title:
Highlights of Africa's Post Rio Strategy

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


title:
SADC embraces Africa's common position for COP18

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


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

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


title:
Natural resources can propel southern Africa's growth

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

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


title:
South Africa establishes mining research institute

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

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


title:
EU to support regional integration and development

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

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


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

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

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


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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


title:
Zimbabwe Unity Accord 22 December 1987

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

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


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

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


title:
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN SADC
December 2012-February 2013

body:
8 December Immaculate Conception Seychelles

9 December Independence Day Tanzania

10 December International Human
Rights Day Namibia

16 December Day of Reconciliation South Africa

17 December Public Holiday South Africa

22 December National Unity Day Zimbabwe

25 December Christmas SADC
Family day Angola, Mozambique

26 December Day of Goodwill South Africa
Family Day Namibia

Boxing Day Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland,
Tanzania, Zimbabwe

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

2 January Public Holiday Botswana, Mauritius

4 January Martyrs Day DRC

12 January Zanzibar Revolution Day Tanzania

15 January John Chilembwe Day Malawi

16 January Heroes Day (Laurent Kabila) DRC

17 January Heroes Day (Patrice Lumumba) DRC

24 January Maulid Day Tanzania

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

3 February Heroes Day Mozambique

4 February Public Holiday Mozambique

4 February National Liberation Day Angola

10 February Chinese Spring Festival Mauritius

12 February Carnival Angola


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


