Inside SADC April 2018 · Inside SADC 4 SADC Secretariat Monthly Newsletter Issue 4, April 2018 On...

InsideSADC

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SADC Summit calls for stability in the region - Story on page 3 & 4

COMOROSMoroni

H.E MASISI IS BOTSWANA’S NEW PRESIDENT SADC-EU MINISTERIAL POLITICAL DIALOGUE HELD

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SADC Summit calls for regional stability

WORLD MALARIA DAY25 APRIL 2018

(World Health Organisation)

SADC ES MEETS CHAIRPERSON OF ZIMBABWE

ELECTORAL COMMISSION

SADC CONDUCTS MEDIA WORKSHOP AND

VISIT OF KAZUNGULA BRIDGE PROJECT

MORE CURRENCIES TO BE INTRODUCED TO

THE SADC REGIONAL PAYMENT SYSTEM

From left to right: President of the Republic of Angola and Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, H.E. João Lourenço, President of the Republic of South Africa and SADC Chairperson, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa and Executive Secretary of SADC, H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax

SADC SECRETARIAT MONTHLYNEWSLETTER ISSUE 4, APRIL 2018

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InsideSADC

SADC Secretariat Monthly Newsletter Issue 4, April 20182

ABOUT THE INSIDE SADC NEWSLETTER

The INSIDE SADC newsletter is produced by the Communication & Public Relations Unit (C&PRU) of the SADC SecretariatFor more information and feedback contact: [email protected] Tel:+267 395 1863

Barbara LopiInnocent MbvundulaJocelyne LukundulaLetso S. MphoPeter Mabaka Dr Motseki HlatshwayoJustify ShavaEliet MagogoDeborah KahatanoMoses NtlamelleFernando CumbeDanai Majaha

DESIGN & LAYOUT: Letso S. Mpho

EXECUTIVE EDITOR:

Dr. Stegormena Lawrence Tax

(SADC Executive Secretary)

EDITOR: Barbara Lopi

(Head of C&PRU)

SUB EDITORS:

Jocelyne Lukundula

Anne Kulemeka

Innocent Mbvundula

SADC Secretariat

Plot 54385 New CBD

Private Bag 0095

Gaborone, Botswana

Tel: +267 395 1863

Fax: +267 397 2848/3181070

www.sadc.int

www.facebook.com/sadc.int

Twitter: @SADC_News

ABOUT SADC. VISION. MISSION. VALUES

HISTORY SADCC was formed to advance the cause of national political liberation in Southern Africa, and to reduce dependence particularly on the then apartheid era South Africa; through effective coordination of utilisation of the specific characteristics and strengths of each country and its resources. SADCC objectives went beyond just dependence reduction to embrace basic development and regional integration. SADC Member States are; Angola, Botswana, Union of Comoros DR Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

TREATYThe Southern African Development Coordinating Conference (SADCC), established on 1 April 1980 was the precursor of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The SADCC was transformed into the SADC on 17 August 1992 in Windhoek, Namibia where the SADC Treaty was adopted, redefining the basis of cooperation among Member States from a loose association into a legally binding arrangement.

STRATEGIC PLANSThe Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and the Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO) remain the guiding frameworks for SADC Regional Integration, providing SADC Member States, SADC Secretariat and other SADC Institutions with consistent and comprehensive programmes of long-term economic and social policies.

SADC SECRETARIAT VISION

A reputable, efficient and responsive enabler of regional integration and sustainable development.

MISSIONTo provide strategic expertise and coordinate the harmonization of policies and strategies to accelerate regional intergration and sustainable investment.

VALUES• Quality• Professionalism• Integrity• Commitment and passion• Team spirit• Mutual respect and trust• Courtesy• Equality of opportunity• Transparency and frankness

SADC OBJECTIVESThe main objectives of SADC are to achieve development, peace and security, and economic growth, to alleviate poverty, enhance the standard and quality of life of the peoples of Southern Africa, and support the socially disadvantaged through regional integration, built on democratic principles and equitable and sustainable development.

SADC FLAG

SADC COMMON AGENDAThe SADC Common Agenda refers to a set of key principles and values that guide the Regional Integration agenda. The SADC Common Agenda is spelled out in Article 5 of the Treaty (as amended, 2009), as well as in the Review of Operations of SADC Institutions and consists of the policies and strategies of the organisation.

CONTACTS EDITORIAL TEAM WRITERS

By Barbara Lopi

The Southern African Development Community (SADC), convened a Double Troika Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the regional body on 24th April, 2018 in Luanda, Angola and called for stablility in the region.

The objective of the Double Troika Summit was to review the political and security environment in the region, and particularly, the implementation of SADC decisions in the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of Congo. His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa, of South Africa, who is also the current Chairperson of SADC officially opened the Summit, which was attended by the Namibian President, H.E Dr Hage Geingob, as incoming Chairperson of SADC; His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom of eSwatini, as outgoing Chairperson of SADC; Angolan President, H.E. João Lourenço, as Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation; Zambian President, H.E. Edgar Lungu, as incoming Chairperson of the Organ; and the Vice

President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E Samia Suluhu Hassan, as a representative of President Dr. John Magufuli, the outgoing Chairperson of the Organ.

The SADC Chairperson said the regional body was committed to assisting sister Member States in their search for lasting political and security solutions.President Ramaphosa said despite “a few political and security challenges here and there in fewer sister countries”, the

region was stable. “The political and security challenges in the Kingdom of Lesotho, the DRC and Madagascar currently continue to occupy our attention, hence the timely convening of this Summit demonstrates our commitment to assist our sister States in their search for lasting political and security solutions,” President Ramaphosa said.

In his welcome remarks, the Angolan President, H.E. João Lourenço, said there was an

urgent need for SADC to make timely interventions and support restoration of political and security stability in the Member States. The Summit was also attended by H.E Joseph Kabange Kabila, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); the Right Hon Prime Minister Dr Motsoahae Thomas Thabane of the Kingdom of Lesotho; and the Executive Secretary of SADC, H.E. Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax.

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Heads of State and Government pose for a photo during the SADC Double Troika Summit held in Angola

SADC Double Troika Summit calls for stability in the region

H.E. President João Lourenço (left) engaging with H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa

InsideSADC


On the situation in the Kingdom of Lesotho, Summit:

• called on all political parties and stakeholders in the Kingdom to accord the needed seriousness to the National Dialogue and the reforms processes, and find lasting solutions to the political and security challenges facing the Kingdom.

• noted the progress made in the deployment of SADC Preventive Mission in the Kingdom of Lesotho (SAPMIL), commended all Member States who contributed personnel and equipment to SAPMIL, and approved the extension of the SAPMIL for a further period of six months, from May 2018 to November 2018.

On the situation in the DRC, Summit:

• called on all stakeholders in the DRC to remain committed to the implementation of the electoral calendar and ensure a conducive environment for the holding of peaceful credible elections which are scheduled to take place on the 23rd of December 2018.

On the situation in Madagascar, Summit:

• condemned the unfolding developments in the country, which resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of property, and urged the Government, political parties, and the citizens of Madagascar to remain calm, exercise restraint, and take measures to avoid the escalation of the political and security tensions

For more information on the outcomes from the Summit, a communique from the Summit is available on the SADC website;http://www.sadc.int/news-events/news/sadc-double-troika-summit-heads-state-and-government-held-luanda-angola/

SADC Double Troika Summit calls for stability in the region

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The Right Hon Prime Minister Dr Motsoahae Thomas Thabane of the Kingdom of Lesotho

H.E Joseph Kabange Kabila, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

InsideSADC


By Danai Majaha

The introduction of the United States dollar as a trading currency on the southern African regional payment system is expected to improve the settlement of transactions among banks within the region.

According to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, the US dollar is expected to be added as a trading currency by October, while other currencies including SADC currencies will be considered as the payment system progresses. The current settlement currency for the SADC Integrated Regional Electronic Settlement System (SIRESS) is the South African Rand (ZAR). The system is housed at the South African Reserve Bank.

The SIRESS is a regional electronic payment system developed by member states to settle cross-border transactions faster without having to rely on intermediary banks from outside the region. For example, where transactions previously took two to three days to clear, now they are cleared within 24 hours and fees paid to non-SADC clearing banks are saved. The SIRESS was established in July 2013 and piloted

in four countries – Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. The system has now been extended to 10 other SADC countries.

According to the South African Reserve Bank, around 60 percent of cross-border transactions in SADC are denominated in US dollars, 35 percent in ZAR and the rest in other currencies. The US dollar transactions are currently settled through correspondent banking arrangements using USD correspondent banks.Since the launch of SIRESS in 2013, the volume of transactions traded on the system has increased significantly, and reached the R1 trillion (about US$81 billion) mark in April 2015. Another milestone was achieved in April 2016 when the volume reached the ZAR2 trillion mark, while the ZAR3 trillion worth of transactions was attained by March 2017.

SADC Executive Secretariat, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax told the SADC Council of Ministers held in late March in South Africa that “to-date over a million transactions

representing ZAR 4.09 trillion have been settled using the system.” The main benefits of the system are its efficiency and reduction in costs because previously the transactions would go through a correspondent bank. The elimination of an intermediary – often a United States or European correspondent bank – means money stays in the region and payments are processed faster.Most banks in SADC member states, except Madagascar and the newest member the Union of Comoros, are part of the SIRESS.

Madagascar has indicated its intention to join SIRESS soon, while admission of Comoros as a SADC member state is expected to increase the number of participating banks on the platform.

The development of SIRESS is in line with the SADC Protocol on Finance and Investment which aims to improve the regional investment climate through enhanced cooperation among member states on payment, clearing and settlement systems in order to facilitate trade integration.

More currencies to be introduced tothe SADC regional payment system

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALLFREEDOWNLOADS.COM


InsideSADC

SADC Chiefs of Police Sub-committee meet toreview progress on decisions to combat crime

By Fernando Cumbe

The Technical Organs Sub-committees of the Chiefs of Police/ Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisatio (SARPCCO) met on 19 – 21 March 2018 in Luanda, Angola to review the implementation of the decisions of SADC Chiefs of Police Sub-Committee and the Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO).

Twelve SADC Members States, namely; Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kingdom of Lesotho, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Kingdom of eSwatini, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe attended the meeting. In his opening remarks, the Inspector-General of Police of the Republic of Angola who is the Chairperson of the SADC Chief of Police Sub-commettee, Commissioner Alfredo Eduardo Manuel Mingas highlighted the need to strengthen the capacity of SADC Law Enforcement to make SADC free from all forms of transnational organized crimes.

Commissioner Manuel Mingas urged members of the SARPCCO Technical Organs to fcailitate Police training in the use of technological tools to fight crime. The meeting reviewed the progress of implementation of decisions of the previous meeting such as; Combating Violent Crimes; Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the SADC region; Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Persons in the SADC Region; Operationalization of Police Component SADC Standby Force; Combating Radicalisation/ Extremism and Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs) in the Region; Fighting Cybercrime in the SADC Region

During the meeting delegates also discussed other issues, including the introduction of a Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership at the SARPCCO Centre of Excellence; an update on Integration of SARPCCO into SADC Structures; an update on the Deployment of SADC Preventive Mission in Lesotho (SAPMIL) and Situational Analysis on Child Abduction in the SADC Region. Delegates noted that the SADC Region has experienced an increase in specific crimes such as Kidnapping for ransom, especially targeting business people; Human trafficking; Bombing of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs); Motor vehicle theft; Insurance fraud; Illicit financial flows; Cyber crime; Money Laundering and Asset Recovery and Ritual Murders.

The meeting agreed to strengthen the capacity to investigate and share intelligence on suspicious transactions, as well as cooperate with Financial Intelligence Units/ Centres in other Member States in the region in conducting joint investigations and raising awareness to prevent people from committing ritual murders for ritual purposes. Delagates were also briefed on the SADC Preventive Mission in Lesotho (SAPMIL) which was deployed on 20 November 2017 and is scheduled to take six months until 20 May 2018.

The Technical Organs comprises the Permanent Coordinating Sub-Committee, Legal Sub-Committee, Train Sub-Committee and Women Network Sub-Committee. The meeting was held in line with the Scheduled Calendar of the Organ Statutory and Technical Annual meetings for 2018 and subsequently in preparation for the Statutory meeting of the SADC Chiefs of Police Sub-Committee that will be held from 28 to 31st May 2018, in Luanda, Republic of Angola

Delegates posing for a group photo

By Peter Mabaka & Innocent Mbvundula

The Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in collaboration with the National Media Coordinators from Botswana, Namibia and Zambia with support from the Federal Government of Germany, Deutsche Gesellschaft fürInternationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH hosted a media encounter and a tour of Kazungula bridge project in Kasane, Botswana, on 24-25 April 2018.

The workshop was attended by journalists drawn from print, radio and television in the three Member States-Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.In his opening remarks at the workshop, the Guest Speaker who is the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services in Zambia, Mr Isaac Chipampe underscored the importance of raising awareness about the important role of SADC.

Mr Chipambe called on the SADC journalists to be the first to report the

achievements and successes of SADC Regional Integration and the region’s landmark projects, such as the Kazungula Bridge project which, he said will be beneficial not only to the SADC Region but also across Africa as a whole.

He expressed hope that, with the skills acquired at the media encounter, participating journalists will develop the interest and see the relevance of reporting on SADC developmental issues, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development, energy, agriculture, trade and industry, tourism, education and health in which SADC is highly involved.

In his presentation, Kazungula Bridge Project Manager, Mr Pius Seone explained that the construction of a 923m long rail/ road extra dosed cable stayed bridge is funded jointly by the Governments of Botswana and Zambia to the tune of USD161 million. The project is expected to be completed by October 2019. Mr Seone said, once completed the bridge will facilitate trade in the region through reduced

transit time for freight and passengers as well as improve border management operations arising from the new One Stop Border facilities in both countries. He added that the bridge will reduce time-based trade and transport costs, thereby contributing to boosting regional economy through increased traffic throughput along the North-South Corridor. He said the bridge will also increase global competitiveness of goods from Botswana and Zambia as a result of reduced time-based trade and transport cost and reduction of transit time from three days to less than half a day.

One of the participating journalists, Ms. Chedza Mmolawa, a reporter for the Sunday Standard in Botswana, commended SADC Secretariat for facilitating the workshop and the visit to the bridge, saying she has a better understanding of the progress being made on the project and that she is better placed to inform her audiences on the benefits of the project to the SADC Region and beyond.

SADC conducts media workshop andvisit of Kazungula Bridge Project

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The Deputy Team Leader for the Supervising Consultants, Mr. Michael Lear, explaining to journalists about the bridge

By Innocent Mbvundula

The Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Her Excellency Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax on 20 April, 2018 undertook a mission to the Republic of Zimbabwe where she met the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Justice Priscilla Chigumba to discuss the status of preparations for the forth coming 2018 elections.

In her introductory remarks, Dr Tax congratulated Justice Chigumba on being appointed Chairperson of ZEC, saying SADC was looking forward to her role to ensure that the forth coming elections in Zimbabwe are credible and in conformity with the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2015) which seek to promote the holding and observation of democratic elections based on the shared values and principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

The SADC Executive Secretary assured the ZEC Chairperson of SADC’s unwavering commitment to support the Republic of Zimbabwe throughout the electoral process. On this note, Dr Tax informed that, in line with the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, SADC will send its election observation mission to provide long term election observation and reporting.

On her part, Justice Priscilla Chigumba thanked the SADC Executive Secretary for the visit and the commitment to support the electoral process. The Chairperson informed the SADC Executive Secretary that ZEC is on course to hold elections within the timeframe, prescribed by the laws governing elections in Zimbabwe. Justice Chigumba said ZEC has secured required funding to enable the Commission facilitate the holding of the elections. The Chairperson added that the Commission has made significant progress in the on-going voter registration and cleaning of the voters’ roll. She informed the SADC

Executive Secretary that ZEC is prepared to undertake a voter awareness campaign ahead of the election, adding that the Commission has already prepared information, education and communication materials, specially targeted at women

and people with disabilities. The two parties agreed to continue collaboration and information sharing in preparation for the election, noting that there is need to inspire confidence amongst electoral stakeholders, particularly political parties and the electorate.

SADC ES meets ZEC Chairperson to discuss preparations for 2018 elections

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InsideSADC

Dr. Tax (left) and Ms. Chigumba discuss election preparations

Guided by the Deputy Team Leader for the Supervising Consultants, Michael Lear, the journalists were conducted on a tour of the Kazungula Bridge Project to appreciate the work being undertaken. The workshop was organized to raise awareness on the planned on-going SADC infrastructure development projects such as Kazungula bridge, as well as their benefits, successes and achievements in promoting SADC Regional Integration Agenda. It also offered journalists a unique opportunity to enhance their journalistic skills and techniques to make complex topics, such as SADC Regional Integration relevant to diverse audiences.

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Kazungula Bridge Project


Architecture's feel of the Kazungula. the multimillion dollar Kazungula bridge is expected to be completed by 2019

PHOTO COURTESY OF HTTPS://CONSTRUCTIONREVIEWONLINE.COM

eSwatini and Zimbabwe scoop 2018 NAFP awards


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The National Accreditation Focal Points (NAFP) for eSwatini and Zimbabwe were awarded certificates of recognition for their effort and contributions towards SADC accreditation goals at the NAFP Award ceremony held on the margins of the 13th SADCAS Annual General Meeting held on 14 March 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Following the SADCAS Board’s decision

undertaken at its 53rd Meeting on 15th February 2018, 2 Awards were presented with NAFP – eSwatini winning the Most Effective NAFP Certificate of Recognition and NAFP - Zimbabwe, the Most Improved NAFP Certificate of Recognition.

The 2018 Awards are based on the reports for the period 1 January up to 31 December

2017 using five (5) criteria weighted as follows:

• Appointed by respective government to serve as NAFP (10);

• Shall have served as NAFP for at least two (2) years (5);

• Regularly and timeously submits quarterly reports on activities to SADCAS (20);

• Effectively progressed implementation of their respective country’s action plan (30); and

• Contributed towards SADCAS goals (35).

The criteria were weighted according to their importance with the latter 2 criteria being considered key. The criteria on Contributions towards SADCAS goals also took into account facilitation of payments of government contributions towards SADCAS sustainability.

Based on the evaluation matrix NAFPs-eSwatini was identified for the 2018 most effective NAFP Award with NAFP-eSwatini coming up with the highest score at 93. NAFP Zimbabwe registered the highest improvement over the past year and was identified for the 2018 Most Improved NAFP Award with NAFP- Zimbabwe coming up with a score at 78.

Award Winners with SADCAS Management and Board Members

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NAFP – eSwatini Officers Pose for a photo with SADCAS Board MembersNAFP – Zimbabwe Officers Pose for a photo with SADCAS Board Members

HISTORY SADCC was formed to advance the cause of national political liberation in Southern Africa, and to reduce dependence particularly on the then apartheid era South Africa; through effective coordination of utilisation of the specific characteristics and strengths of each country and its resources. SADCC objectives went beyond just dependence reduction to embrace basic development and regional integration. SADC Member States are; Angola, Botswana, Union of Comoros DR Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

TREATYThe Southern African Development Coordinating Conference (SADCC), established on 1 April 1980 was the precursor of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The SADCC was transformed into the SADC on 17 August 1992 in Windhoek, Namibia where the SADC Treaty was adopted, redefining the basis of cooperation among Member States from a loose association into a legally binding arrangement.

STRATEGIC PLANSThe Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and the Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO) remain the guiding frameworks for SADC Regional Integration, providing SADC Member States, SADC Secretariat and other SADC Institutions with consistent and comprehensive programmes of long-term economic and social policies.

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InsideSADC


BIOPAMA phase 2 kicks off in Southern Africa By Deborah Kahatano

An inception workshop for the second phase of Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management (BIOPAMA) Programme was held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 17th to 20th April 2018.

Themed “From Knowledge to Action”, BIOPAMA Phase 2 aims at reinforcing the management and governance of protected and conserved areas by proving tools to address specific regional, national and local needs on conservation planning and management in line with priorities of participating countries. The programme will continue to support countries in Eastern and Southern Africa to achieve their conservation objectives as well as their commitments under relevant multilateral environmental agreements. The inception workshop was officially opened by the European Union Ambassador to South Africa His Excellency Dr. Marcus Cornaro and was facilitated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the European Commission Joint Research Centre.

Stakeholders from 14 SADC Member States attended the workshop to enhance their understanding of the objectives and expected results from the BIOPAMA Programme; collectively identify regional priorities for the programme; and identify focal points for implementation of the programme in Southern Africa. Governments institutions, Protected Area and Wildlife Management Agencies, non-governmental organizations, regional conservation organisations, cooperating partners, SADC Secretariat, the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and the ACP Secretariat also participated.

The workshop is one of a series of BIOPAMA inception workshops that are convened in different regions of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific to develop a clear roadmap for

implementation of BIOPAMA. The Democratic Republic of Congo and the United Republic of Tanzania are categorized under the Central and Eastern Africa regions respectively under the BIOPAMA Programme. The BIOPAMA Programme is an initiative of the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States and its main objective is to support the protection and sustainable management of terrestrial and marine biodiversity in ACP countries, while reducing poverty in communities in and around protected areas. The programme is funded through the European Union’s 11th European Development Fund (EDF 11) and is implemented by IUCN in collaboration with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (EC-JRC) on behalf of the ACP Secretariat.

With investment from EDF 10, BIOPAMA Phase 1 which was implemented between 2011-2017 delivered capacity building activities and access to high quality data and information on status of protected areas. In Southern Africa, BIOPAMA 1 supported several initiatives, including the SADC Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) Network, the SADC TFCA Portal and website, the development of SADC Guidelines for Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Extractive Industry, and a Regional Dialogue on Protected Area Governance, among others. The main components of BIOPAMA Phase 2 include: • Knowledge Management for improved management of Protected Areas

• Capacity building for Protected Area Management and Governance; and

• Action components that will provide grants to local and regional actions in support of biodiversity conservation on the ground, improved governance and management effectiveness of protected areas and community livelihoods.

Group photo of delegates at the workshop

By Martin Muchero

The SADC Secretariat’s Directorate of Food Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) participated in a study tour to learn how to control Fall Armyworms, hosted by Embrapa, Brazil’s premier agricultural research organisation in Brazil from 26 to 29 of March 2018.

The objective of the tour was to learn from Brazil, a country that has had to live with Fall Armyworm (FAW) for time immemorial, the techniques used to control FAW to facilitate the development of a long-term SADC integrated pest management systems geared towards controlling this pest. The tour included meetings, field visits and tours of various facilities in the capital of Brazil, Brasilia, Sete Lagoas, and Belo Horizonte.

The Fall armyworm is originally from America and countries such as Brazil have successfully managed to contain it for decades. The Fall armyworm was introduced in the SADC region in early 2017 (first observed in

Africa in 2016), and, since its introduction, it has caused serious damage, forcing production costs to go up. The pest attacks maize as its preferred host. In the SADC Region, 13 Member States have been affected, except Lesotho and Mauritius.

Throughout the study tour it was noted that it is not possible to eradicate FAW, but that communities have to learn to manage and live with the pest. Key instruments to control Fall armyworm include an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) system that Brazil has developed over the years which comprises the use of biotech control of FAW with less emphasis on chemical and pesticide controls. The participation of SADC in this South-South FAW study cooperation tour, organised by the Government of Brazil, through the Brazil Cooperation Agency (ABC), in partnership with the United States Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), provided critical input towards the control of the FAW in the Region, through lessons learnt in Brazil.

Fall armyworm

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SADC participates in a tour to Brazil to learn how to control Fall Armyworms


Most Improved NAFP AwardNAFP – Zimbabwe - The two NAFPs Ms Riyana Chibanda and Mrs Mildred Machiri were appointed in 2015 and in 2008 respectively and have made good progress during the period under consideration as evidenced by a high country average on national action plan realization 80%. Awareness and promotion activities were the main activities undertaken with a survey and meetings being held with accredited and under process CABs to understand the challenges that they were facing in remitting foreign currency as payment for services rendered. Meetings were also held with the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe who have been facilitating payments since that meeting.

Three applications for accreditation from a medical laboratory, an inspection body and a certification body were received, 2 expressed interests in accreditation and 4 expressed interests in training were received by SADCAS during the period under review albeit holding one training course during the year. As at 31 December SADCAS had accredited the highest number of facilities in Zimbabwe at 20 followed by Tanzania at 18 and Botswana at 16.

Most Effective NAFP AwardNAFP - eSwatini continued to make great effort in awareness raising and promotional activities. The two NAFPs Mrs Sthembiso Sybil Dlamini and Ms Phindile Priscilla Dlamini were appointed in 2006 and 2010 respectively and made very good progress in the implementation of national action plan which contributes to SADCAS goal realization. This is evidenced by the highest country average of realization of 91%. NAFP – eSwatini and submit regularly quarterly reports and always well ahead of the prescribed times. During the period under review, SADCAS received 2 accreditation applications from a testing and calibration laboratory from eSwatini, undertook 4 training courses and handled 5 expressed interests on training.

The NAFP Award ceremony is an annual event held in conjunction with the SADCAS Annual General Meeting to recognize NAFPs efforts and contributions towards SADC goals on accreditation. (SADCAS)

2018 NAFP awards from page 9

http://agrihomegh.com

By. Ms. Panduleni Elago & Dr. Motseki Hlatshwayo

A consultative workshop for the establishment of a Regional Platform for Non-State Actors (NSAs) involved in the fisheries and aquaculture within Southern Africa was organized by Southern African Development Community (SADC) in collaboration with the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) and NEPAD Agency (NPCA) from 17-19 April 2018 at the headquarters of AU-IBAR in Nairobi, Kenya.

The main objective of the workshop was to establish and formalize a regional platform for non-state actors actively involved in fisheries and aquaculture in the SADC region that will provide strategic leadership and coordination of all national and sub-national level NSAs at regional level. Specifically, the workshop:

• Informed participants about regional and continental fisheries programmes and processes including small-scale fisheries and aquaculture action plans, as well as of the opportunity for NSAs to participate in the policy and programme implementation processes, and create awareness with regard to the FAO Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines – FAO, 2015);

• Enabled the respective NSAs convene and share information and experiences of their organisations and the fisheries and aquaculture activities they are involved in;

• Formally established a Fisheries and Aquaculture NSA platform for SADC region;

• Developed and endorsed Terms of Reference and an inaugural action plan for a Regional Platform of NSAs in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector within the SADC region; and

• Elected and approved inaugural office bearers of the regional platform.

The workshop was attended by 22

participants from 14 SADC Member States namely: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Representatives from the Eastern Africa NSA Platform for Fisheries and Aquaculture (EARFISH), SADC Secretariat, AU-IBAR and FAO facilitated in the workshop.

Representatives of Member State NSAs shared experiences on the work they are doing in their respective countries, and highlighted challenges faced by NSAs in the sector. International experts and other regional platforms, especially from East Africa also shared their experiences and advice on how the SADC NSA Platform can succeed where others failed.

This was followed by the establishment of the Southern African Regional Non-State Actors Platform in Fisheries and Aquaculture (SANSAFA) whose goals are to coordinate from the grassroots, the NSA voice and contribute to the national and regional fisheries and aquaculture development agenda. In this regard, among its key overall goals are to ensure effective

implementation of the SADC Protocol on Fisheries, the AU Policy Framework and Reform Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Africa (PFRS) and the FAO SSF guidelines at grassroots level. The inaugural meeting also elected office bearers who are expected to actively participate in regional meetings and workshops as part of implementation of regional policies and programmes. Zimbabwe was designated as chair, DRC as Vice-Chair, Madagascar as Secretary, Mozambique as Deputy Secretary and Malawi as Treasurer.

SADC Secretariat was requested to introduce SANSAFA to the regional statutory structures so that they are recognized as partners in the implementation of the SADC regional policies. SANSAFA will also participate in the fisheries and aquaculture workshops and meetings, and will jointly plan with SADC Secretariat and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the commemoration of World Fisheries Day on 21 November 2018.

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12 SADC Secretariat Monthly Newsletter Issue 4, April 2018

SADC Secretariat facilitates creation ofa regional platform for small-scalefisheries in Southern Africa

Delegates attending the first workshop of regional Non-State Actors for fisheries and aquaculture in SADC region

By Moses Ntlamelle & Letso S. Mpho

The SADC Secretariat is participating in a project to enhance sustainable regional energy market and address market governance and regulatory related challenges affecting the implementation of energy development projects in the Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region.

Through the energy programme, the SADC Secretariat is a member of the Project on Enhancement of a Sustainable Regional Energy Market in the Eastern Africa (EA), Southern Africa (SA) and Indian Ocean (EA) Region (ESREM - EA-SA-IO) which is supported by the European Union (EU) under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF).

The main objective of the project is to address market governance and regulatory related challenges affecting the implementation of energy development projects in the Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region. The project is expected to address and prepare the regions to trade power effectively.

The project started in May 2017 following the signing of an agreement between EU and COMESA for financing the five Regional Communities (RECs) in the EA-SA-IO, namely; the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) the East African Community (EAC,) Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and Indian Ocean Commission (IOC).

Recently, a review exercise was undertaken during the Second Meeting of the Technical Steering Committee of the Project on Enhancement of a Sustainable Regional Energy Market in the EA-SA-IO Region was held in Swakopmund, Namibia on the 25 – 26 April 2018, to provide guidance to ensure attainment of the project’s objectives.

The COMESA Regional Association of Energy Regulators for Eastern and Southern Africa (RAERESA) coordinates the implementation of the programme while the Regional Economic Communities (COMESA, EAC, IGAD, IOC and SADC) provides support through a

component aimed at strengthening the monitoring role of the RECs in the establishment of a harmonised energy market. In rationalizing the implementation of the programme, SADC Regional Electricity Regulatory Association (RERA) which was established in terms of SADC Protocol on Energy (1996) is performing the role of an assistant ‘champion’. Other key implementing agencies are the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREEE). The Regional Association of Energy Regulators, Regional Power Pools, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Centres and the representatives of the European Union Delegations to the three sub-regions also play critical roles in the implementation of the project.

The programme’s three areas are;

• regional harmonization of energy regulatory framework adopted by regional and national regulatory institutions, with particular emphasis on cross border issues to

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SADC enhances sustainable regional energy markets

PHOTO COURTESY OF HTTP://RASTEK.COMSome of the energy resources

encourage investments in the region;

• enhancement of regulatory capacity of the National Regulatory Authorities and strengthening capacity of the Regional Associations (RAERESA, EREA and RERA) and Power Pools (EAPP and SAPP) to proactively influence developments in the energy sector;

• enhancement of the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency strategies, policies and regulatory guidelines to attract investments in clean energy and build capacity in clean energy in the region as well as the domestication on a demand driven basis.

Under this project, SADC will continue to coordinate the remaining Member States that are not connected in the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) transmission network to accelerate their respective on-going interconnector projects to enable them participate in regional electricity trading market. The Project will also support SADC through RERA to address national

and regional electricity market governance and regulatory issues for the benefit of all. The priority regional projects in the SADC Region to be considered include the A n g o l a - N a m i b i a , Mozambique-Malawi and Zambia-Tanzania transmission interconnectors.

The Zambia-Tanzania interconnector once commissioned,

will link the East Africa Power Pool (EAPP) and Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). The Zambia-Tanzania interconnector will further contribute towards continental integration through energy infrastructure and increased electricity trading between the southern and eastern African countries after endorsement by the Member States and RECs governing the SAPP and EAPP power pools.

SADC enhances sustainable regional energy markets

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from page 13

SADC Senior Programme Officer for the Energy Sector, Mr. Moses Ntlamelle

Second Technical Steering Committee Meeting on Enhancement of Sustainable Regional Energy Market held in Namibia in April 2018 to review implementation of Project on Enhancement of a Sustainable Regional Energy Market in the Eastern Africa (EA), Southern Africa (SA) and Indian Ocean (EA) Region (ESREM - EA-SA-IO)

By Jocelyne Lukundula & Eliet Magogo

The Main Planning Conference (MPC) of the Command Post Exercise (CPX), Exercise UMODZI was held from 23 - 27 April 2018 in Lilongwe, Malawi. This is the 2nd Planning Conference that was preceded by an Initial Planning Conference held in December 2017.

These Conferences are held in preparation for the upcoming CPX that was approved by the Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) in order to enable the SADC Standby Force (SADC SF) to assume its role in the African Standby Force (ASF) roster in January 2019. The Exercise is scheduled to be held at the Malawi Armed Forces College (MAFCO) in the city of Salima (130 km from Lilongwe), in Malawi from 1 to 18 October, 2018.

The objective of the MPC was to deepen the discussions on the concretization of the Ex UMODZI, finalize documentation and share a detailed programme of the activities that will take place during the CPX.

At the conclusion of the Conference, Member States finalised the Exercise outline, scenario, i n s t r u c t i o n s , Communication Action Plan, draft SOFA/Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with amendments; and came up with a roadmap of activities leading to the conduct of the CPX in

October 2018. The finalized drafts are expected to be presented to the Final Planning Conference scheduled for July 2018.

The approval to conduct a CPX is subsequent to the attainment of Full Operational Capability (FOC) of the ASF and further recommendation by the 9th African Union Ministerial Specialized Technical Committee on Defence, Safety and Security (STCDSS), where it was recommended that the ASF should be rostered on a six-monthly rotational basis with effect from 01 January 2017 peace and security capabilities to the entire African continent as part of its conflict resolution architecture. In this regard, the SADC SF will assume its roster duties from the 1st January

2019 to 31st June 2019.

In this context, the Exercise will enable the SADC SF to prepare for the assumption of its responsibility to provide the African Union with capabilities to respond to conflicts through the deployment of m u l t i - d i m e n s i o n a l peacekeeping forces and to undertake interventions pursuant to Article 4(h) and (j) of the Constitutive Act.

The CPX aims to exercise a Multidimensional Force Headquarters and Sector Headquarters on the Planning and Conduct of integrated Missions in Peace Support Operations. The Exercise will be a platform for learning, where experienced and eminent persons from the SADC region will be

mentoring and advising the participants on how best to go about a given situation while Evaluators will also ensure objectivity in the collection, analysis and reporting of observations and lessons learnt.

The conference was attended by the following Member States: Angola, Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. ACCOR and ICRC were also in attendance.

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2nd Planning Conference for SADC StandbyForce Command Post Exercise convened

Delegates pose for a group photo

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BL: Can you explain what the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP) is all about and how relevant it is to the SADC region.

DG: The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP) is an instrument that defines common agreed objectives and strategies/measures, including implementation mechanisms, to guide, promote and support actions at regional and national levels in the agricultural sector of the SADC member states, in contribution to regional integration and the attainment of the SADC Common Agenda. Article 21 of the of the SADC Treaty identifies agriculture as one of the key areas for cooperation among member states to foster regional development and integration, hence in order to fulfil this obligation the RAP was drafted and approved by the SADC Council August 2014.

The overall objective of the RAP is to ‘promote collaborative actions at the regional level and complement national actions that stimulate competitive production and trade of agriculture-based products, whilst ensuring the sustainable utilization of natural resources and effective protection of the environment’. Specific Objectives of the RAP are to promote agricultural growth through increased competitive and sustainable production and productivity; increase private and public sector engagement/investment in the agricultural value chain; increase intra and extra-regional trade of agricultural products and strengthen farmers’

participation in markets; and reduce social and economic vulnerability of the region’s population in the context of food security and a changing economic environment.

The RAP is critical to the SADC’s regional and economic integration agenda as over 60% of the nearly 300 million people in the SADC Region directly depend on agriculture for their livelihood.

BL: When was the RAP established?

DG: The process of developing the RAP commenced in March 2008 and involved a series of preparatory, participatory and interim national and regional analytical reviews and studies, as well as national and regional workshops. Arising from this work, the Regional Agricultural Policy was approved by Ministers responsible for Agriculture and Food Security in June

2013 in Maputo, Mozambique. Subsequently, the RAP was endorsed by SADC Council in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, in August 2014.

BL: Can you explain what the Agricultural Development Fund is and why it is relevant to the SADC region?

DG: The Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) is a financial instrument that is intended to accelerate the implementation of the Regional Agricultural Investment Plan 2017 – 2022 (RAIP). It comprises seven financial facilities, namely:

• The Value Chain Facility whose objective is to support the effective and efficient value addition processes for selected agricultural commodities and products;

Interview with SADC Secretariat’s FANR Director

Mr. Gove

In March 2017, the SADC Council approved the establishment of the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) as a financial instrument to accelerate the implementation of the Regional Agricultural Investment Plan 2017 – 2022 (RAIP), with an estimated investment requirement of US$1.3 billion over five years, to implement the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP). Barbara Lopi (BL) interviewed the SADC Secretariat Director of Food Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Domingos Gove (DG) to find out more on these strategies.

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QUESTION

& ANSWER

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• The Agriculture Infrastructure Development Facility whose objective is to enhance access to agriculture infrastructure including water, energy, land, roads, storage and other relevant agriculture infrastructure in order to ensure effective and efficient production systems for improved productivity and heightened competitiveness;

• The Agricultural Market and Trade Facility which focuses on the marketing of, and trading in, agricultural products by strengthening institutional and regulatory frameworks, and improving access to market and trade information;

• The Agriculture Information Management Facility which aims to promote agricultural development by providing policy makers, planners and economic players access to reliable and timely information that is necessary for policy development, emergency preparedness, planning, and decision making;

• The Food and Nutrition Security Facility which aims to support preparedness, response and recovery from food and nutrition security related disasters;

• The Environment and Natural Resources Facility which aims to improve the effective, efficient and sustainable utilisation of environmental and natural resources with the view to increasing resilience of the agricultural sector while also reducing or limiting Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions; and

• The Governance and Institutional Development Facility which aims to provide financial and technical support for the establishment of institutional, governance and management structures required to implement the RAIP at both the regional and national levels; and provides for the formulation of the rules, regulations or guidelines for measures under all the Facilities at regional and national levels.

These facilities are incentive based for the purpose of lowering operational costs and leveraging both public and private sector investment into agriculture. The facilities

should allow each member state to selectively use a mix of facilities to achieve individual country programmes. Furthermore, the facilities should allow for effective coordination and harmonisation of the RAIP and National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs). In addition, the facilities provide clear entry points for d o n o r / d e v e l o p m e n t partner/inter-departmental or organisational inputs to support agricultural growth in the Region thereby also enforce the principles of partnership, inclusivity, participation, coalitions, and aid harmonisation, among others. Lastly, the facilities provide for effective monitoring and evaluation.

BL: Is the Agricultural Development Fund operational, and how does it function? If not when will it become operational?

DG: Since approval by the SADC Council that the Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) be established, work has begun towards establishing the fund. This means that the institutional, organisational and governance structures need to be formulated and put in place to operationalise the ADF. Similarly, the financial sustainability plan for the ADF has to be undertaken and so also the operational structures and plans need to be developed. Funds permitting, it is expected that these setting-up activities will be completed during the 2018/19 financial year with an estimated ADF start date of 2020. The ADF Operational Guidelines articulate who will be entitled to or eligible for funding under the ADF, how they would access that funding, and the terms and conditions for accessing and utilising ADF funding once it becomes operational.

BL: What are the objectives of the Regional Agricultural Investment Plan (2017 – 2022) and what benefit does it promise to the SADC region?

DG: The Regional Agricultural Investment Plan (RAIP) was approved by the SADC Council in March 2017. The RAIP prioritizes areas for investments and builds on the principle of subsidiarity between national and regional levels. It aims at ‘promoting collaborative actions at the regional level and complementing

national actions that stimulate competitive production and trade of agriculture-based products whilst ensuring the sustainable utilization of natural resources and effective protection of the environment’. It outlines five priority investment programmes on agricultural production, productivity and competitiveness; access to markets and trade of agriculture products; investments in and access to finance for agriculture; social and economic vulnerability reduction; and food and nutrition security in the region. The RAIP also, provides the opportunity for SADC Member States and partners to finance interventions in areas where there is added value to pursuing a regional approach, such as seed regulations, agriculture information systems or regional value chains, and regional research efforts.

BL: Any other related information on the subject that you want the public to know.

DG: The development of the RAP would not have been possible without the support of SADC International Cooperating Partners. First were the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs who provided financial support through FAO for a period of nearly two years from 2008 to 2009. Additional support was then provided by a number of sources including the World Bank and GIZ. More consistently has been the support by USAID for the last seven years since 2012. USAID has provided financial support for the costs of RAP Coordination including costs for various activities undertaken in the formulation process.

SADC also acknowledges the technical support provided through the RAP Working Group by individuals and institutions including the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the Southern Africa Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU), the South Africa Sugar Association, the Sugar Producers Consultative Forum of Swaziland, and the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS – SA). As members of the RAP Working Group, these and other institutions provided expert advice, policy guidance and process support throughout the formulation process of the RAP.

Interview with SADC Secretariat’s FANR Director from page 16

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By Justify Shava

The SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre (SPGRC), an institution responsible for the coordination and promotion of the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources in the region, successfully conducted a training on the newly developed Web based SPGRC Documentation and information System (Web – SDIS) and Proposal Development from the 17 – 19 of April 2018 in Pretoria, South Africa.

The workshop’s aim was to equip the National Gene Bank Documentation Officers from Member States on the use of the new system and in the area of writing of fundable proposals. The meeting was attended by 10 SADC Member States and four Technical Officers based at the SPGRC in Lusaka, Zambia. The workshop was conducted in partnership with the New Partnership for Africa's

Development (NEPAD) Southern Africa Network for Biosciences (SANBio) which provided funding for the event and technical support for the proposal writing process.

The Director of International Relations for Africa in the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mr Winston Makhabanyane officially opened the workshop.

Information management has grown to become one of the key pillars in the field of plant genetic resources conservation and utilization. For the conserved plant genetic resources to be useful to end users, which include communities of scientists like plant breeders and farmers, information about their beneficial traits must be carefully documented and provided readily to these users. Such information must include even the Indigenous Knowledge about the accessions stored that is obtained

from the communities from which the stored plant accessions are collected.

The SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre developed an information management system, the web SDIS, that enables Member States’ national gene banks to manage information on their conservation activities online through centralised coordination at SPGRC in Lusaka. The web SDIS was successfully rolled out in all SADC Member States and is expected to make the day to day work of genebank managers ease.

SPGRC and NEPAD SANBio hold workshopon managing plant genetic resources

Delegates posing for a group photo

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SADC ES VISITS ZIMBABWE - 21 APRIL 2018

SADC Executive Secretary, H.E. Dr. Tax handing over a token of appreciation to the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Simon Khaya-Moyo.

During the visit to Zimbabwe, H.E. Dr. Tax had the opportunity of meet the

Former President of Zimbabwe, His Excellency Dr. Robert G. Mugabe. She delivered a gift in appreciation of his

contribution to SADC

The Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Her Excellency Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax (left) on 20th April, 2018 paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

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The SADC Plant Genetic Resources Centre (SPGRC) is an institution of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It is located in Lusaka, Zambia and falls under the Food Agriculture and Natural Resources Directorate (FANR) of the SADC Secretariat. It was Established in 1989 and its mandate is to promote the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources in the SADC Member States.

This is because the well adapted plant species of the region are under serious threat of genetic erosion due to natural causes like climate change and man-made conditions. Plant genetic resources are a source of the diversity that is required by plant breeders in the process of development of new crop varieties. They provide novel genes that are potentially useful in ensuring the region’s food security especially now that climate change is bringing about frequent droughts and new forms of pests and diseases which are threatening crop survival.

The SPGRC in Lusaka houses a regional genebank where SADC Member States deposit their treasured plant accessions for long term storage. Depositors of crop seeds retain ownership of the seeds at the SPGRC and have the right to withdraw the seeds if there is need in Member States. In turn, the regional genebank at SPGRC, as a safety precaution in case there is accidental loss at the regional genebank in Lusaka, sends duplicates of the stored Member States accession to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault located in the Svalbard Archipelago on the Spitsbergen Islands within the Arctic Circle.

The SPGRC has three main units that work by complementing each other in their efforts namely, the Ex Situ Conservation Unit, the In situ Conservation Unit and the Documentation

and Information Unit. Ex Situ conservation is responsible for the day to day running of the regional genebank and the In situ conservation unit is responsible for the SADC region’s on-farm conservation of plant genetic resources as well as promotion of community seed banks. The documentation of all the information pertaining to the conservation of plant genetic resources in the region is done by the SPGRC’s Documentation and Information unit.

The SPGRC can be reached by phone: Landlines: +260 211 233391; +260 211 233815; +260 211 233816; Mobile contacts: +260 974 737 037; +260 954 416 817. email: [email protected], [email protected]

Compiled by: Justify Shava – Head SPGRC


DID YOU KNOW?

SPGRC Offices in Lusaka

Inside the regional genebank at SPGRC

20

The Mozambican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front or FRELIMO (Frente de Libertação de Moçambique), and Portugal. The war officially started on September 25, 1964, and ended with a ceasefire on September 8, 1974, resulting in a negotiated independence in 1975. Portugal's wars against independence guerrilla fighters in its 400-year-old African territories began in 1961 with Angola. In Mozambique, the conflict erupted in 1964 as a result of unrest and frustration amongst many indigenous Mozambican populations, who perceived foreign rule to be a form of exploitation and mistreatment, which served only to further Portuguese economic interests in the region.

Many Mozambicans also resented Portugal's policies towards indigenous people, which resulted in discrimination, traditional lifestyle turning difficult for many Africans, and limited access to Portuguese-style education and skilled employment. Mozambique succeeded in achieving independence on June 25, 1975, after a civil resistance movement known as the Carnation Revolution backed by portions of the military in Portugal overthrow the military dictatorship, thus ending 470 years of Portuguese colonial rule in the East African region.

Source:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozambican_War_of_Independence

REPUBLIC OFMOZAMBIQUE

In Angola, 4th April, is celebrated as Peace and Reconciliation Day. It commemorates the signing of the agreement between the Angolan government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola. In Portuguese, it is commonly known as União Nacional para a Independência Total de Angola in Portuguese. The agreement ended decades of civil war in Angola.

Angola became independent from Portugal on November 11, 1975, after the coup in Lisbon that ended the dictatorial regime in Portugal. This action started a process of democratization in Angola and encouraged the push for independence in other colonies of Portugal.

April 4 is for the Angolan people a day of hope in the reconstruction of the country and consolidation of the peace process between the political parties. Organized cultural and sporting events are held across the country to celebrate this day. Also in Luanda, capital of Angola, there are organized official events with the participation of the government and politicians. There are also religious services offered on this day for peace and harmony among people in Angola.

Source:http://aglobalworld.com/holidays-around-the-world/peace-reconciliation-day-angola/

REPUBLIC OFANGOLA

Each 7 April is Karume Day in Tanzania to remember the legacy of Abeid Karume, the first president of Zanzibar and the first Vice President of Tanzania. The date of this holiday is the day on which Karume was assassinated in 1972. When the island of Zanzibar gained independence from the British Empire in 1963, it was initially a constitutional monarchy with a sultan. The sultanate was overthrown, however, in 1964, ending five centuries of Arab domination of Zanzibar. It was a quick, but bloody, revolution in which thousands of ethnic Arabs and Indians were massacred.

Abeid Amani Karume was on the African continent during the revolution but was soon called back to Zanzibar to take part in the government. Soon, however, a power struggle developed, which ultimately led to Karume banning his opponent John Okello from Zanzibar and taking charge himself as president. Soon thereafter, Karume led Zanzibar into union with Tanganyika to form the new united republic of “Tanzania”.He was gunned down by four gunmen on 7 April, 1972, in Zanzibar. Today, he is remembered every 7 April in the national holiday called “The Sheikh Abeid Amani

Karume Day”. Source: https://publicholidays.africa/tanzania/karume-day/

UNITED REPUBLICOF TANZANIA

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MEMBER STATES INFORMATION

Karume

UNION OF COMOROS

MEMBER STATE HOLIDAY DATE

Labour Day 01 May All SADC Countries

Cassinga Day 04 May Namibia

Ascension Day 10 May Botswana/Lesotho/

Madagascar/Namibia/Swaziland

Kamuzu Day 14 May Malawi

Whit Sunday / Pentecost 20 May Madagascar

Whit Monday 21 May Madagascar

Africa Day 25 May Angola/Namibia/Zimbabwe

Africa/Heroes’ Day 25 May Lesotho

Africa Freedom Day 25 May Zambia

Corpus Christi 31May Seychelles

MEMBER

STATES

HOLIDAYS

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