By Phyllis Johnson – SANF 04 no 05
Water resources management remains a major challenge and priority in 2004 for the SADC region, which is often subjected to drought and floods, and where more than half of the rural population still does not have access to clean water and sanitation.
Energy is another key development area where the demand has increased while supply remains static. Both come under the new SADC Directorate of Infrastructure and Services (IS), which also has responsibility for transportation, communications and meteorology systems.
The revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses, which took effect in September last year after ratification by two-thirds of SADC member states, seeks to strengthen cooperation in joint management of the region’s 15 shared river basins and avoid conflict over water resources.
The protocol also recognizes the need to improve the water supply in the region.
Recent studies have shown that an average 60 percent of people in rural areas still lack access to safe drinking water, SADC’s Executive Secretary, Dr Prega Ramsamy said at a frank year-end briefing where he chronicled SADC’s successes but gave equal time to the challenges.
He said the SADC water division is developing a regional programme for water supply and sanitation, aimed at assisting member states to achieve their targets.
The division is also preparing a long-term water policy and strategy for the region, in consultation with stakeholders and with clear cognisance of water as a strategic resource and an important vehicle for regional development and integration.
This includes a “strategic hard water infrastructure” development programme in response to one of targets in the regional strategic plan, which is to “develop a water resources infrastructure needed to double land under irrigation”.
The energy sector in the region also received a major boost in 2003 with approval of the Inter-governmental memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishing the Western Power Corridor among the participating countries of Angola, Botswana, DRC, Namibia and South Africa.
The MOU was approved by the SADC Integrated Committee of Ministers in July last year, and electricity supply in the region is likely to continue expanding in 2004.
“The regional energy situation has remained static over the past 12 months on the supply side. However, on the demand side, the region has registered a steady increase in the traded energy through the short term energy market established and managed by the Southern Africa Power Pool Co-ordination Centre,” Ramsamy said.
Another priority project in this sector is the Zambia Tanzania Inter-connector Project.
In the sector of transport, communications and meteorology systems, SADC continues to try to establish efficient, cost effective and fully integrated infrastructure and operations, to meet the needs of the customers as well as promoting socio-economic development in a sustainable manner.
National policies are guided by the SADC Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology, ratified in 1998, and model policies, guidelines and legislative provisions have been developed.
A number of guidelines were finalized during the past year, on universal access and service; licensing of telecommunications; wholesale pricing and fair competition in the communications sector; and SADC standards for roads and bridges.
The IS directorate has continued to strengthen implementation of protocols, the legally binding instruments that guide policy formulation and strengthen regional integration. The progress achieved by this directorate toward sound infrastructure development will make the region more attractive to investment.
SADC is also an attractive destination for tourists, and the tourism sector accounts for seven percent of income for some national economies in the region. The peace and stability achieved through the end of hostilities in Angola and signing of the DRC peace accord have contributed to improving the region’s image in this regard.
According to preliminary data published by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), southern Africa’s tourist arrivals reached 12.8 million in 2002, a growth of more than six percent over the 2001 figure. This was achieved despite difficulties for the industry worldwide, including stagnation of the world economy and the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 events.
South Africa remains the most favoured destination, despite a decrease in arrivals of between one and two percent in 2001, and tourist arrivals increased in Mauritius, Namibia and Lesotho.
The SADC Directorate for Infrastructure and Services has set these priorities for 2004:
Facilitate implementation of the protocols on energy, tourism, water, transport, communications and meteorology;
Finalise and adopt guidelines on development of a legal framework for e-commerce;
Upgrade and establish telecommunication networks and services at national level;
Improve interconnectivity in the region and provision of gateways to global telecommunication networks through the Southern Africa Regional Information Infrastructure project;
Prepare guidelines for development of meteorology policies and legal frameworks for cost-recovery;
Finalise and adopt a multilateral agreement on road transport;
Promote public-private sector partnerships in the provision of transport, infrastructure and services;
Liberalise markets in road transport, rail and air services, and coastal shipping. (SARDC)
