Archive for the ‘SADC’ Category
source: Mmegi
MBONGENI MGUNI
Staff Writer
As the December deadlines for the signing of a key trade agreement approaches, another round of negotiations between SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) countries and their EU counterparts will get underway in South Africa next week.
In June, ministers from the seven EPA countries met in Gaborone and approved timelines for the finalisation and signing of a comprehensive EPA with the EU. Under the agreement, the states committed themselves to resolving sticking points that have seen negotiations drift past the original December 2007 deadline, enforceable by the World Trade Organisation.
The SADC-EPA group also committed itself to [continue reading]
source: allAfrica
Zimbabwe Independent (Harare)
24 September 2010
editorial
It is now apparent that Sadc and its facilitator in the Zimbabwe political negotiations, South African President Jacob Zuma, do not have teeth that bite and even have difficulty barking.
And besides Sadc and Zuma, President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his deputy Arthur Mutambara have betrayed Zimbabweans by failing to discharge their mandate to heal the nation and take charge of its social development.
The regional bloc at its summit in Namibia last month gave a 30-day deadline to Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Mutambara to resolve outstanding issues in the global political agreement (GPA) signed two years ago.
The deadline expired last Wednesday with no movement whatsoever towards the resolution of the sticking points – the rehiring of central bank czar Gideon Gono, appointment of Attorney-General Johannes Tomana and the swearing in of MDC-T treasurer Roy Bennett as Deputy Agriculture minister. Sadly, Sadc and [continue reading]
source: Mmegi
A recent Southern African Development Community (SADC)-European Commission (EC) meeting on the future of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) governing trade between the two regions has been described as constructive by a top South African trade negotiator.
The intention to conclude an agreement by the end of the year, and a work programme, including a further three meetings before year-end, had been agreed by the participants.
Department of Trade and Industry, International Trade and Economic Development deputy director-general Xavier Carim did however caution that, while the meeting was encouraging, “we are not out of the woods yet,” and there was still much work that needed to be done. The meeting was held in Brussels at the end of July, and focused on tariffs and rules of origin, as well as unsolved negotiating issues relating to [continue reading]
source: Mmegi
MBONGENI MGUNI
Staff Writer
Botswana is expected to break new ground by becoming the first SACU member to establish a national body responsible for various trade issues including tariffs.
Under a 2002 agreement, the five SACU members have an April 2011 deadline to establish such a body. The Botswana Ministry of Trade and Industry says the national body will be responsible for investigating and evaluating applications with regard to alleged dumping or subsidised exports into the country. It will institute safeguard measures, amend customs duties/tariffs and make recommendations to the SACU Tariff Board.
The national body will determine eligibility for [continue reading]
source: Mmegi
LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent
Southern African Customs Union (SACU) heads of state and government have agreed that the customs union should be transformed into a vehicle for economic integration capable of promoting equitable development.
Chaired by South African President Jacob Zuma and attended by President Ian Khama, King Mswati of Swaziland, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, the meeting took place in South Africa last week.
The summit was meant to reflect on the achievements and challenges, as well as to deliberate on the future strategic direction of SACU, in view of the recent regional and global developments. According to a [continue reading]
source: BOPA
25 February, 2010
GABORONE – SADC has established the Southern Africa Telecommunication Association (SATA) as a platform to spearhead and coordinate the orderly development of telecommunication and ICT networks as well as services in the region.
Senior advisor at the International Telecoms Union (ITU) regional office for African telecommunications development bureau, Ms Chali Tumelo told the delegates at the 10th SADC Telecom Operators Bilateral Meeting (STOBM) that the need to set up the entity was done with a view to provide networks and services that were responsive to the diverse needs of commerce and industry in support of [continue reading]
source: BOPA
17 February, 2010
GABORONE – The Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Dr Tomaz Salomao has assured a visiting delegation of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association that peace and stability exists in the region despite some challenges encountered in some member states.
Dr Salomao said its common to see someone driving from Gaborone to Maputo via South Africa without any hassle or form of threat as it was the case when some countries in the region experienced some political turbulence.
He said even though some countries in the region are experiencing some political instability this has not negated peace in the region. He stated that last year all the countries which went to the polls ran them smoothly with all the political parties accepting the results as [continue reading]
source: Sunday Standard
by Kagiso Madibana
31.01.2010 9:12:42 P
The Southern African Development Community parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), in collaboration with UNAIDS RST, World AIDS Campaign, Soul City Institute, SAT, SAFAIDS, and HEARD recently invited parliaments and civil societies from across the SADC region for its second annual three-day workshop titled the ‘50 by 15 campaign’ which will be held in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
The’ 50 by 15” campaign, an initiative of the SADC PF since July 2009, addresses the issue of legislative and social co-operation on the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs) of 50% reduction in new infections by 2015, together with the virtual elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission.
The workshop serves as a follow-up on the commitments and priority actions that were decided on [continue reading]
source: SW Radio Africa
By Tichaona Sibanda
14 January 2010
The SADC Troika on Politics, Defence and Security held a summit in Maputo on Thursday to consider, among other issues, reports on developments in Zimbabwe’s inclusive government.
The summit came just two days before negotiators from ZANU PF and the two MDC formations begin another round of talks on Saturday, which are supposed to thrash out the remaining and most contentious issues in the Global Political Agreement (GPA).
Most of the region’s leaders were in Maputo for the inauguration of Mozambique’s President Armando Guebuza. Guebuza, who first came into power in 2005, won a re-election in November last year and began his second and final five year term on Thursday.
Robert Mugabe attended the inauguration ceremony and left soon after attending a luncheon hosted by Guebuza, according to Fred Katerere, a Maputo based journalist. Katerere told us reports in the media that Mugabe was to attend the Troika meeting were [continue reading]
source: SW Radio Africa
By Tichaona Sibanda
7 January 2010
SADC member states on Thursday concurred with South Africa’s position that they were not happy with the pace of talks in Zimbabwe to resolve all outstanding issues.
Mozambican Foreign Minister Oldemiro Baloyi told journalists at the end of a two-day SADC ministers’ meeting in Maputo that they shared South Africa’s concern that the Global Political Agreement talks in Harare were taking too long to be concluded.
Fred Katerere, a Maputo based journalist, told SW Radio Africa that Baloyo made it clear the region was not happy with pace of the talks in Zimbabwe.
‘Baloyi said indications are that there may be problems in Harare because the talks have gone on for too long without a conclusive deal. The ministers resolved to press the Zimbabwe negotiators to speedily work out the remaining issues,’ Katerere said.
South Africa’s International Relations Minister, Mait Nkoana-Mashabane, briefed the regional foreign ministers on the progress of talks to resolve the power-sharing dispute threatening the [continue reading]
source: allAfrica
Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)
6 January 2010
Maputo — The SADC (Southern African Development Community) Political and Diplomatic Committee, consisting of the foreign ministers of the member states, is meeting in Maputo on Thursday, to discuss preparations for the next heads of state summit of the African Union, to be held in Addis Ababa from 31 January to 3 February.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, SADC Executive Secretary Tomas Salomao stressed that the rotating chairmanship of the AU is due to be occupied by a southern African leader this year. SADC had decided at its 2009 summit in Kinshasa to support the candidature of Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika.
Salomao said that this situation remains unchanged despite the recent deterioration in relations between Mozambique and Malawi. Mozambican President Armando Guebuza had been present when the [continue reading]
source: BOPA
10 November, 2009
BOBONONG, – The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has a goal to eliminate malaria in the region by 2015, hence member states are urged to consolidate their malaria control and intervention programmes.
Giving a keynote address at the commemoration of SADC Malaria Day at Semolale in the Bobirwa Sub District recently, Bobonong East councilor, Mr Calvin Sekwababe said it was important to review progress towards attaining the goal.
“This year’s theme ‘Counting Malaria out!’ and the slogan ‘kick Malaria out: Act Now!’ highlight the importance of tracking progress along the way as we join forces to attain the SADC goal,” Mr Sekwababe said.
Speaking on behalf of Bobirwa MP, Mr Shaw Kgathi, the councilor said it was incumbent upon the region to [continue reading]
source: Mmegi
HUMPHREY NKONDE
Correspondent
NDOLA: Southern African Development Community (SADC) nations look set to benefit from massive investments in the agriculture sector that have every potential to transform the region’s agricultural landscape.
Atlas Farming, which had successful farming ventures in Zimbabwe from the late 1960s until president Robert Mugabe’s much criticised land reforms around 2000, has partnered with Chayton Capital to invest in large-scale farming in Zambia.
Atlas Farming is buttressed by Chayton Capital’s approximately Û 234 million of committed capital in Central and Eastern Europe .The joint venture has selected Zambia to kick-start investments in the agriculture sector in Africa due to, among other factors, political stability, diverse agronomic conditions and [continue reading]
source: allAfrica
Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo)
4 November 2009
Maputo — The SADC (Southern African Development Community) body on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation (commonly referred to simply as “the Troika”) will hold a summit in Maputo on Thursday, mainly to discuss the current crisis in Zimbabwe.
SADC Executive Secretary Tomas Salomao told reporters on Wednesday that the three major players in Zimbabwean politics, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Deputy Prime Minister Arthud Mutambara, and President Robert Mugabe, will attend, as will all three members of the Troika, its current chairperson, Mozambican President Armando Guebuza, its past chair, Swazi King Mswati III, and the Troika deputy chair, Zambian President Rupiah Banda
Also expected at the summit are the current chairperson of [continue reading]
source: allAfrica
The Nation (Nairobi)
Kitsepile Nyathi
2 November 2009
Nairobi — A regional summit to try and break an impasse that threatens to bring down Zimbabwe’s unity government is set for neighbouring Mozambique.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC), which brokered the power sharing agreement between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai mandated Mozambique, Zambia and Swaziland to tackle the Zimbabwean crisis.
Mr Tsvangirai’s spokesman, Mr James Maridadi told various news agencies that the prime minister had received an invitation to attend the summit set for Thursday.
“Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai will be attending the conference in Maputo on Thursday to discuss the power sharing agreement,” he said.
The three countries that make up the troika on security and peace last week sent their [continue reading]
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