SANF 05 no 37
After 25 years of its existence, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is celebrating a distinct southern African personality and identity that underpins political, economic and social cooperation which are at the centre of the achievement of the region’s goals.
“For the past 25 years SADC has endeavoured to create a dynamism which has resulted in a sense of regional belonging and unity for the people of the region,” said Prime Minister of Mauritius and chairperson of SADC, Paul Berenger in his message to mark the 25th anniversary of SADC on 1 April.
What began as an initiative of Frontline States to bring political liberation to the region has developed into arguably the most successful regional grouping in Africa.
Following the transition from the Southern Africa Development Coordinating Conference (SADCC) to SADC in 1992, the region has developed legal documents including sector protocols with a number having already been harmonised with national policies.
Apart from achieving political stability, which was also the core of the initiative to form the regional grouping, SADC has made significant strides in economic and social development.
“When SADC was established in 1980, member states were pursuing different socio-economic policies. To date the SADC community has adopted more or less the same outlook and is implementing market-oriented policies,” said Berenger.
The implementation of the SADC Trade protocol is at the heart of the community’s agenda and will pave the way for the creation of a SADC Free Trade Area in 2008 and a Customs Union by 2012.
The organisation is confident that the protocol will boost trade exchanges among member states and increase the competitiveness of the region’s products.
The implementation of the protocol is being complemented through provision of inland routes and the development of spatial corridors to ensure a shorter time-span for the movement of imports and exports and a consequential reduction in transport costs.
The Maputo, Walvis Bay, Tazara and Nacala corridors provide gateway to the sea for the landlocked countries of the region.
Agriculture remains a major source of livelihood to many SADC citizens accounting for over 70 percent of the region’s labour force. Despite the occurrence of drought and floods, the region has remained resolute to ensure food security through various strategies and programmes which are already under implementation.
“With the adoption of the Dar-es-Salaam Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security in May 2004, we have set in motion a process of improving food production in the region. SADC Member States are continuing to provide agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilisers and farming implements to small holder farmers,” said Berenger.
As the region strives to implement its development agenda it has been able to incorporate technological advancements through expanding internet access and increasing the number of fixed and mobile phones as well as inter-regional telecommunication structures. Effective use of information communications technology in the region will help the region to keep up with globalisation.
In the area of social and human development, efforts have been intensified to improve the quality of education to ensure the availability of skilled, culturally responsive and productive manpower.
“A suitably qualified human resource base is pivotal in achieving equitable growth, deeper integration of the SADC space and greater competitiveness in the global economy,” said SADC’s chairperson.
A healthy population is also key to development and the region is making extensive efforts to deal with the HIV and AIDS pandemic. “With 14 million people living with HIV and AIDS our region is the worst affected in the world and only our collective efforts and action can turn the tide and win the war against this pandemic,” he said.
Gender mainstreaming is vital towards development efforts and the region has been urged to take stock of its gender development activities so as to undertake corrective measures where action has not occured.
Political stability, which is key to development efforts, is improving and the region is characterised by an entrenchment of democratic norms and principles. Elections are being held in the region with due regard to the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections adopted in Mauritius in August 2004.
The peaceful political environment, the stable macro-economic situation and the abundance of natural resources combine to make SADC a region of tremendous economic potential.
“Through regional efforts and foreign direct investment, we can harness our resources more effectively for the benefit of all SADC citizens, ” said Berenger. (SARDC)
