Humphrey Nkonde
14 August 2008
The crisis in Zimbabwe is likely to be one of the top issues at the forthcoming Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) summit of heads of state and government leaders to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 16.
Political, economic and social happenings in Zimbabwe can be expected to take centre stage because they have the potential to impact negatively on SADC's march to the envisaged regional integration and South Africa's hosting of the FIFA 2010 World Cup finals.
At the SADC meeting of heads of state held in August last year, it was anticipated that the economy of Zimbabwe would improve and pave the way for a Customs Union and Free Trade Area. To the contrary, Zimbabwe's economy has nose-dived while unemployment has reached the 80 percent mark.
Hyperinflation and unemployment has forced Zimbabweans to migrate to neighbouring countries such as Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Zambia.It is only when problems in Zimbabwe are solved that it will be easy for the regional bloc to form a viable Customs Union and Free Trade Area.
It will be difficult to trade with Zimbabwe as a result of hyperinflation. The Zimbabwe dollar has lost value since the price of bread has reached around Z$100 billion and newspapers are selling at Z$ 3billion a copy.
The vision by SADC countries to integrate their economies will be hampered by shortage of supply and expensive energy. Except for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), all the SADC countries are load shedding, hence the decision to hike electricity tariffs.
Just 11 days before the SADC meeting, there were protests by COSATU in Johannesburg and other places over the proposed increment of electricity tariffs by 27.5 percent. The surest way of assuring the region of reliable and affordable electricity is by harmonising power generation projects.
On the other hand, there is need for clear guidelines and adherence to the guidelines relating to the supply of electricity to the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) inter-connector. Zimbabwe, for instance, was disconnected by Zambia from SAPP. Zambian authorities said the reason their system tripped was a result of problems with system in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe has since been reconnected. At the time Zimbabwe was cut-off there was enough power in the DRC that could be exported to South Africa. But before exportation there was need for the system in Zambia to be connected to that of Zimbabwe through the SAPP inter-connector.
One project that needs to be discussed extensively is the potential to generate sufficient electricity from DRC's Inga project. Power from the Inga Rapids is capable of lighting up the entire Africa and the excess can be exported to Europe and the Middle East.
The other issue that SADC heads of state are sure to tackle is the expensive oil on the global market. Oil prices opened at more than US$ 100 per barrel this year, heralding years of expensive fuel. Prices of oil recently reached an all-time high of US $142 per barrel, but came down to US $ 118.
But when the developed economies such that of the US picks up, the demand will rise again because there is a likelihood of the US dollar gaining value against other currencies.
It is for this reason that SADC countries should start looking to alternative sources such as bio-fuels. Most of the countries in the SADC region have some projects aimed at producing bio-fuels. But they need to scale up on these projects and to share successes and challenges. Attached to expensive fuel are increased prices of fertilisers and food due to escalating transportation costs.
The SADC region should look for ways in which food security can be assured in the light of climate change that has resulted in droughts and floods, which are compromising food security. On the other hand, food production is constrained by HIV/AIDS, with former Botswana President, Festus Mogae, telling the recent International AIDS Conference in Mexico City that Southern Africa is hard hit by the killer disease.
Attached to the migration by Zimbabweans to other countries is the element of xenophobia, which SADC leaders will not avoid at the Johannesburg meeting. An estimated 60 people were killed, while an estimated 30,000 families were displaced in xenophobic attacks that flared in May in Johannesburg.Most of the attacks were directed at Zimbabweans, which led an estimated 36,000 Mozambicans returning home.
Foreigners, commonly referred to as 'Makwerekwere', were accused of being at the heart of violent crime and 'snatching' of South African women, although statistics show that crime in South Africa has been high even without the influx of foreigners.
South Africa will assume the chairmanship of the regional grouping.
Xenophobia, construction boom and migration
Xenophobic attacks in South Africa have come at a time when this economic giant has more prospects for employment in the construction sector, which supplements the mining sector.
There is a construction boom because South Africa is building the infrastructure needed for the hosting of the World Cup in 2010. But South Africa cannot cope with the number of people that will pour in for the global football event.
There is therefore, need for SADC countries other than South Africa to explain how far they have gone in constructing facilities for the event.Presently, construction companies in South Africa have employed some engineers from neighbouring countries, including Zimbabwe, as the nation constructs soccer facilities for the World Cup.
It should also be appreciated that former South African President, Nelson Mandela, is married to Graca Machel of Mozambique. Malawian President, Mbingu Wa Mutharika's late wife was from Zimbabwe. Dr wa Mutharika once lived in Zambia, where he worked as COMESA secretary general.
Botswana was forced to open a refugee shelter in Francistown as a result of the Zimbabweans who poured into the country following disputed elections and violence. The government of Botswana provided tents in which Zimbabwean immigrants lived.Angolan refugees lived and still live in Zambia and other SADC countries, but now Angola is talking about democratic elections.
Analysts have observed some biased reporting in the run-up to the balloting because most of the political items on television are centred on MPLA, the ruling party.There is need to balance reporting so that even opposition political parties like UNITA can be heard.
The need for objectivity among journalists should be spread to Zimbabwe, where broadcast journalists were suspended for allegedly not covering ZANU-PF.
Zimbabwe has been detaining journalists on the frontline of democratic governance.
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