18 August 2011
13.45p.m
The 31st Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) was held in Luanda, Republic of Angola from August 17 to 18, 2011.
Summit was officially opened by the SADC Chairperson, His Excellency Dr. Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of the Republic of Namibia.
Summit elected His Excellency Eng. José Eduardo dos Santos, the President of the Republic of Angola and His Excellency Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of the Republic of Mozambique as Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of SADC, respectively.
Summit also elected His Excellency President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa and His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania as Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, respectively.
The Summit was attended by the following Heads of State and Government and/ or their representatives:
Angola : H.E. President José Eduardo dos Santos
DRC : H.E. President Joseph Kabila Kabange
Lesotho : The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Dr. Pakalitha Mosisili
Mozambique : H.E. President Armando Emílio Guebuza
Namibia : H.E. President Hifikepunye Pohamba
South Africa : H.E. President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
Swaziland : His Majesty King Mswati III
Zimbabwe : H.E. President Robert Gabriel Mugabe
Botswana : His Honour Lt General Mompati Sebogodi Merafhe, Vice President
United Republic of Tanzania : H.E. Dr. Mohammed Gharib Bilal, Vice President
Zambia : His Honour George Kunda, SC, Vice President
Malawi : Hon. Professor Eta Banda, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Mauritius : Dr. The Honourable Arvin Boolell, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade
Seychelles : Hon. Peter Sinon, Minister of Investment, Natural Resources and Industry
Summit was also attended by His Excellency Mr Festus Gontebanye Mogae, former President of the Republic of Botswana and Chairperson of the Champions for an HIV Free Generation. He urged SADC leaders to continue championing social changes and intensifying the provision of services needed to achieve an HIV Free Generation and the target of no new infections in the region by 2015.
In attendance were also the following: His Excellency Mr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, Chief Executive of the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, His Excellency Sindiso Ngwenya, Secretary General of COMESA and His Excellency Dumisani Mahlinza, Deputy Executive Secretary of SACU.
His Excellency President Jose Eduardo dos Santos of the Republic of Angola and host of the 31st Summit welcomed the SADC Heads of State and Government and all the delegates to the Republic of Angola. His Excellency outlined the achievements recorded by the Region and urged Member States to elevate SADC to a new level of regional integration with a special focus on infrastructure development to accelerate investment and trade in the region.
In his address to the opening session of the Summit, the Outgoing Chairperson, His Excellency President Hifikepunye Pohamba of the Republic of Namibia thanked Member States for the support rendered to him during his tenure of office. He indicated that significant strides have been made in all the key areas of the SADC Programme of Action particularly consolidation of the Free Trade Area, Infrastructure Development, Food Security, combating HIV and AIDS and Gender and Development.
In accepting the SADC Chairpersonship, His Excellency President Jose Eduardo dos Santos thanked the Outgoing Chairperson for the progress achieved during his tenure of office and expressed Angola´s commitment to play its part during its Chairpersonship.
Summit also received a statement from the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, His Excellency, Mr Jean Ping. He commended the SADC Region for its key strategic initiatives in its integration agenda and its commitment to continental integration as reflected in the launching of the negotiations for the Tripartite Free Trade area between COMESA-EAC-SADC.
The Executive Secretary of SADC, Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomao delivered a statement highlighting progress made in the implementation of programmes in the main areas of regional integration in SADC. The Executive Secretary also referred to the institutional reforms aimed at enhancing capacity and efficiency of the Secretariat.
Summit also received the Report from the Outgoing Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, the President of the Republic of Zambia His Excellency Mr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda. Summit noted that the region continued to be characterised by democracy peace and security. The Report highlighted the following:
Summit wished the DRC, Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of Zambia peaceful, free and fair elections to be held during the 2011/12 calendar and urged all stakeholders to adhere to the SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections. Summit also noted progress made by DRC, Lesotho and Zambia in preparation for the national elections to take place before the next Summit.
On consolidation democracy in the region, Summit noted that the Republic of Seychelles held elections from 19 – 21 May 2011 and congratulated H.E. James Michel for his re-election and Parti Lepep for winning the presidential elections. Summit congratulated the people of the Republic of Seychelles for exercising their rightful practice in a peaceful and exemplary manner.
Summit reviewed the socio-economic situation in the region and noted improvements in the macro-economic performance indicators, such as growth in real average Gross Domestic Product which stood at 4.9 per cent compared to 2.4 per cent in 2009, investments which improved from 22 per cent of the GDP 2009 to 24.9 of GDP in 2010 as well as a decline in inflation from 12.4 per cent in 2009 to 7.5 per cent in 2010. Summit, however, noted that the region should remain alert to the risks posed by financial and economic volatilities in the developed economies. Summit mandated the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration to deepen the debate on how to protect the SADC economies from external shocks and to restructure the regional economies in order to combat poverty.
Summit reviewed the status of implementation of the infrastructure programme for the region, especially power projects, regional corridors and Information and Communication Technology, which include the Kazungula Bridge, the Chirundu One Stop Border Post, the Zimbabwe-Zambia-Botswana-Namibia Inter-connector and the EASSy Projects. Summit underscored the role of infrastructure in regional integration and urged the speedy conclusion of Infrastructure Master Plan.
On Gender and Development, Summit noted the progress made by Member States in ensuring equal representation of women in political and decision-making positions. Summit urged Member States to develop innovative strategies towards the achievement of the gender parity goal.
Summit noted progress made on the regional food security situation in particular, in cereal and non-cereal and livestock production. Summit urged Member States to intensify measures to increase production, diversify and promote income generating opportunities in order to improve access to food in line with the Dar es Salaam Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security of 2004.
Summit noted progress made in the implementation of the Maseru Declaration on combating HIV and AIDS of 2003, in particular in the key focus areas of prevention, treatment, care and support. The region has recorded a significant decline in new infections since 2009. Summit urged Member States to continue to provide human and financial resources at both national and regional levels to sustain these positive trends.
Summit noted progress made in consolidating the SADC Free Trade Area and commended Seychelles for having taken steps to join the FTA. Summit directed the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration to expedite work leading to agreement and common understanding on the roadmap for the SADC Customs Union.
Summit took note and underscored the importance and relevance of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Grand Free Trade Area Negotiations launched in June 2011 and urged Member States to consult, adequately prepare and accelerate the negotiations. Summit underscored the importance of infrastructure development in the regional integration agenda.
Summit directed the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration to engage in strategic discussions within the context of the review of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan to identify priorities and reorient the SADC integration agenda accordingly, with a view to enhancing developmental integration.
Summit noted that the next negotiations on the 17th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 17) and the 7th Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol will take place from 28 November to 9 December 2011 in Durban, South Africa. Summit underscored the importance of the multilateral dialogue in addressing challenges posed by climate change. Summit urged SADC Member States to support the African common position. Summit pledged its support to South Africa in hosting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP 17.
Summit took note of the progress report presented by the Committee of Ministers of Justice/Attorneys General on the Tribunal and other legal issues, and directed the Committee to remain seized with the task and report back to the next Ordinary Summit.
Summit noted with deep concern the evolving famine situation in Somalia caused by internal strife and drought conditions in the Horn of Africa and noted that this has resulted in a severe humanitarian disaster affecting over 12 million people, including 1.5 million internally displaced people requiring food, water, medical, clothing and shelter supplies and provisions. Summit adopted a declaration expressing solidarity with the People and Government of Somalia and pledged to provide urgent humanitarian assistance.
Summit expressed its appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Angola for the warm hospitality extended to all delegates and facilities provided.
His Excellency President Jose Eduardo dos Santos officially closed the Summit. The 32nd Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held in Mozambique in 2012.
Luanda, Republic of Angola
August 18, 2011