by Pamela Mhlanga – SANF 04 no 71
Leaders of SADC member states will converge in Mauritius on 16-17 August to review the socio-economic and political situation in the southern African region since the last summit, held in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania.
A number of key developments have taken place during the last 12 months, including the launch of SADC’s longterm development blueprint in March, the adoption of the food summit declaration in May, and general elections in Malawi and South Africa.
Outgoing SADC Chairperson, Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, who outlined a results-based agenda when he took over the rotating chair in August 2003, launched the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) during the Council of Ministers Meeting in Arusha in March. The RISDP outlines SADC’s longterm vision over the next 15 years and seeks to realign the integration agenda.
In line with the internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals, and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the RISDP sets time-bound targets for the region’s identified priority areas. The SADC Secretariat is in the process of unbundling the blueprint into business plans, which are expected to be launched at the Council of Ministers in January/February 2005.
In response to the critical, recurrent food shortages in parts of SADC, President Mkapa convened an Extra Ordinary Summit on Agriculture and Food Security on 15 May. The summit committed member states to addressing the issue of food security on a sustainable and regional basis, as opposed to relying on external aid.
The leaders adopted the Dar es Salaam Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security, which sets priority areas for the next two years, as well as for the medium to long-term. They agreed to consider establishing a regional agricultural development facility, as well as a regional food reserve facility that would strengthen capacity for disaster preparedness.
Member states also agreed to progressively increase financing to agriculture by allocating at least 10 percent of national budgets within five years, in line with a commitment in the African Union’s Maputo Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security adopted a year ago.
On the political front, the search for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues. Recent military disturbances including two foiled coup plots have heightened fears that the transitional government may not meet its deadline to organise elections by June 2005.
In South Africa, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) won an overwhelming majority in the country’s third democratic elections. It was a double celebration for President Thabo Mbeki’s ANC party with the country commemorating the first decade of democracy on 27 April.
The ANC won 69.7 percent of the 400-seat parliament. One of the highlights of the new cabinet that was announced by President Mbeki soon after the elections was the 43 percent women representation, surpassing the SADC target of 30 percent by 2005.
Malawi’s general elections held on 20 May, the third multi-party poll since the demise of Kamuzu Banda’s one-party system in 1994, ushered in new faces. Economist cum diplomat, Bingu wa Mutharika, won the presidential election on a United Democratic Front (UDF) ticket, despite his party winning 49 seats in the 193-seat parliament. The majority parliamentary winner was the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), which garnered 60 seats.
With the Malawi and South African elections having come and gone, the spotlight now shifts to Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique, three SADC countries to hold polls before the end of the year. Botswana general elections are expected on 16 October, Namibia on 15-16 November and Mozambique on 1-2 December.
In Mauritius, the leaders will also discuss a report from the Council of Ministers on the restructuring of SADC institutions. The restructuring started in 2000 and to date, all four directorates have been created at the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone. The Integrated Committee of Ministers and National Committees have been created, the RISDP was approved and its implementation has began, and the job evaluation exercise has been completed.
Other reports to be considered are on the review of the regional situation with specific reference to the region’s economic and social situation, agriculture and food security, gender, and HIV and AIDS, as well as President Joaquim Chissano’s AU report and progress on NEPAD. Specific recommendations are expected to be adopted on these issues.
The summit will consider application for SADC membership from Madagascar. Current membership stands at 13 countries, since the withdrawal of Seychelles became effective at the beginning of July.
President Mkapa will hand over the chair to Mauritian Prime Minister, Paul Raymond Bérenger, who will steer the regional grouping for the next 12 months. A new chairperson for the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security will also be elected to take over from Lesotho’s Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili. (SARDC)
