Visa exemptions to be expedited

SADC countries that have not taken initiatives to operationalise bilateral visa exemptions have been directed by the SADC Council of Ministers to expedite this and report back by August 2019.

International relations minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, who has taken over as the chairperson of the SADC Council of Ministers, provided feedback on Tuesday regarding the outcomes a meeting held earlier this week at the Safari Court Hotel in Windhoek.

The council meeting was held in preparation of the Summit of Heads of State and Government that takes place on Friday and Saturday.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said the council noted progress on the implementation of visa exemptions and commended member states that have taken initiatives to operationalise bilateral exemptions.

She said a number of issues were discussed.

These relate principally to priority programmes contained in the revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2015-2020, the Strategic Indicative Plan for the Organ (SIPO II) and the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap 2015-2063.

The council endorsed the 38th SADC Summit theme proposed by Namibia, in its capacity as the incoming chair.

The theme is 'Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development'.

The council further directed the secretariat to submit a comprehensive review report on the implementation of the revised RISDP during its meeting to be held in August 2019.

It urged member states to focus on implementing activities in the approved two plans.

Noting the SADC Groundwater Management Institute's financial sustainability plan, the council approved its subsidiary status application.

The council also directed the secretariat to operationalise the Regional Gas Committee, develop the SADC Regional Gas Master Plan and urged countries to nominate members of the SADC Regional Gas Committee.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said the council also urged countries to continuously intensify their advocacy and lobbying campaigns on gender parity, as per the provision in the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, and create a conducive environment and supporting structures for women to join and stay in politics and decision-making positions.

It urged countries to commit to regional priority power projects aimed at enhancing security of supply, and take the necessary measures to enhance the packaging of projects, while creating an enabling environment for energy sector reforms, in order to attract investors.

Countries were also urged to collaborate with the private sector to identify, package and attract investment, and implement regional value chain projects.

Nandi-Ndaitwah said the climax of the SADC meetings will be on Friday and Saturday.

The socio-economic situation in the region, as well as the global economic situation will be discussed, together with the performance of the SADC economy, gender and development, food security and HIV/Aids in the region.

The summit will also receive a report on the operationalisation of the 37th summit theme: 'Partnering with the Private Sector to Develop Industry and Value Chains'.

It will also approve the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund and the SADC University of Transformation and consider the status of the implementation of the industrialisation strategy and roadmap.

The summit will also discuss issues of continental integration.

These issues include the Tripartite and Continental Free Trade Area, implementation of the free movement of persons in Africa, African Union institutional reforms and the post-Cotonou arrangements.

ELLANIE SMIT