Keynote Address 4^th October 2021 Justice Zione Ntaba

Good morning, I bring you greetings from the Warm Heart of Africa, Malawi. A country blessed with beautiful people, rolling hills, thirst quenching rivers and an amazing lake, fondly called the Lake of Stars or the Calendar Lake. We look forward to your visit.

Let me first say, that is it is great to be among a set of people in the legal profession who I enjoy interacting with, being a former prosecutor myself. It is therefore an honour to address you at this SADC Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Model Law Consultative Meeting for Prosecutors from SADC Member States being held virtually. It is important to note that these consultative meetings are happening at a highly appropriate time right now on the African continent as every country is continuing to grapple with gender-based violence and its impact on the population as well as its economic prosperity and development for its people. Therefore, my keynote address is suitably placed in this discussion that Africa needs to have at this point but more so for the SADC countries which have their own unique issues in terms of gender-based violence.

Let me state from the onset that I find the objectives of the consultative meeting, exciting and extremely important as the issues you aim to achieve are very fundamental for gender and women’s right across Africa. It should be indicated at the beginning that there will be a lot of discussion on women and girls in this address. It is evident that even in the 21st Century, research has shown that most sectors continue to move at a glacial pace in terms of bringing women and girls into a position of achieving highest development but more so the enjoyment and promotion of their human rights.

Estimates published by WHO in March, 2021¹ indicate that globally about 1 in 3 (30%) of women worldwide have been subjected to either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime. Further that most of this violence is intimate partner violence. Worldwide, almost one third (27%) of women aged 15-49 years who have been in a relationship report that they have been subjected to some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner. Incidentally that violence against women and girls particularly intimate partner violence and sexual violence is a major public health problem and a violation of women's human rights. Therefore, as prosecutors we should be very concerned and be working on ensuring that we reduce these numbers.

Distinguished prosecutors, I have gone through the draft SADC Model Law and wish to applaud the SADC Parliamentary Forum for having taken on this task which is critical and

pivotal in the justice sector. Most of us hail from countries that have Constitutions that emphasize human rights including mine where under section 19, it provides for the inviolability of human dignity. It prohibits torture, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment. Gender based violence bears the marks of torture, and is also, under various circumstances, cruel, inhumane and degrading. The invasion of the body in sexual offences contrary to the victim’s wishes often leaves the victim traumatized, both physically and psychologically violated. It is a fact that consequences of gender-based violence means unproductive citizens and this equates to a lack of development for the citizen, nation and continent as a whole.

It is therefore imperative that as SADC we move and embrace new ways of handling gender- based violence. The words of Gubbay JA in Banana v State² are very poignant and speak to the need to adjust especially in dealing with issues in the gender-based violence context. He stated that in present day society, there was no rational reason to apply the archaic cautionary rule in cases of a sexual nature. This followed changes in neighbouring jurisdictions like South Africa and Namibia. Gubbay JA quoted with approval the Namibian judgment, S v D & Anor³ in which the following was said: "in the end only one test applies, namely, was the accused's guilt proved beyond reasonable doubt, and the test must be the same whether the crime is theft or rape" Gubbay JA went on to quote, again with approval, the South African judgment in S v Jackson⁴, in which the following was said: "In my view, the cautionary rule in sexual assault cases is based on an irrational and outdated perception. It unjustly stereotypes complainants in sexual assault cases (overwhelmingly women) as particularly unreliable. In our system of law, the burden is on the State to prove the guilt of an accused beyond reasonable doubt - no more and no less.”

I am, therefore, particularly pleased that this meeting affords us an opportunity to share knowledge and experiences on this very important topic and in the process build a body of knowledge that can be used to perfect the draft model law. However, it will be remiss of me, if I do not pick out a few areas in the model law which in my opinion need further examination especially taking into consideration, the role of prosecutors in the criminal justice space.

Recently, the Covid pandemic has resulted in many of our countries registering alarming incidences of gender-based violence. The model law has included a very critical area which several the SADC jurisdictions has very little legislation on, that is, the concept of femicide. WHO states that globally as many as 38% of all murders of women are committed by intimate partners. The model law only highlights femicide under the definition part but fails to expand it in terms of the legislation or offer enough insight to the various countries on how to adopt and adapt the model law.

The model law fails to provide parameters for prosecution institutions in dealing with femicide including prioritization of prosecuting such cases, charging aspects to mention a few.

It should be noted that femicide especially in honor killings or domestic situations needs to have a different focus in terms of prosecution policies in our various countries and the model law needs to ensure such is properly highlighted.

Let me take this opportunity to also buttress a critical issue which needs to be fully embraced and noted in the model law. This is in terms of implementation of the law itself especially as it relates to prosecution which goes beyond the training envisaged in section 72 of the draft model law as it relates to the concept of re-victimization. The law needs to address re- victimization to be one beyond access to justice but to one envisaged as an extension of the medical ‘first do no harm’ principle. Further that such should be addressed across the gender- based violence continuum of a victim. Whilst in terms of prosecution, this should include the parameters (policies or otherwise) to be addressed and ensured – pre, during and post prosecution.

Carmichele v Minister of Safety and Security and another⁵ buttresses the importance of prosecution doing their duty. The High Court and the Constitutional Court held that the common law of delict required development to reflect the constitutional duty on the State especially, the police and the prosecution, to protect the public in general, and women, against the invasion of their fundamental and guaranteed rights by the culprits of violent crime. The Court held the Minister liable, in a case of rape, for negligence because the State did not take measures to protect the victim including the prosecutor who had failed to inform the presiding officer that the accused had previously physically assaulted the victim so that he was not afforded bail.

Similarly, Mexico's Supreme Court issued a historic order where the Court analyzed the conduct of each public servant involved in a murder case and revealed how the absence of a gender-sensitive approach had led to human rights violations of the victim, Mariana Lima, the deceased as well as her mother. The court also issued legal protection for Irinea Buendía, the deceased’s mother. Eventually, Julio César Hernández Ballinas, the husband was arrested since the order required México state authorities to reopen the case but also to conduct the investigation "from the perspective" of femicide, or the murder of a woman by a man for reasons related to her gender⁶.

It can be said that Courts have played and continue to play their part in protecting women’s rights. They have consistently highlighted that women and girls continue to face numerous inequalities but also vulnerabilities to their wellbeing and safety. On the African continent, this is worsened due to the patriarchal nature of our society. It is my belief that most courts are moving towards gender responsive judging as well as service delivery, therefore it is critical that prosecutors also inherently adopt policies, systems and processes that are gender responsive as they can affect the delivery of justice if they do not.

Lastly, it is recognized that our courts have made significant strides in the jurisprudence involving women and girls in terms of gender-based violence, however there is some gap when it comes to men and boys who are faced with gender-based violence. Therefore, the issues of gender responsiveness are critical. Consequently, the model law needs to also address aspects of this in terms of how the system is viewing incidences of violence perpetrated against men and boys. Internationally despite the context being highlighted is conflict times related, the significance cannot be underplayed. In the case of The Prosecutor v Bosco Ntaganda⁷ which concerned the Forces Patriotiques pour la libération du Congo (FPLC), an armed group comprised of people from the Hema ethnic group, which was a party to the 2002-2003 DRC conflict. It was recorded that at the pre-trial and trial stage, the Defence sought to have the charges of sexual violence against FPLC child soldiers excluded on the basis that the alleged conduct could not be a war crime because the putative victims and perpetrators belonged to the same military force. However, the Appeals Chamber rejected that argument, and confirmed that the rape and sexual enslavement of child soldiers by their commanders can indeed constitute war crimes under the Rome Statute. The Trial Chamber held that the OTP proved several of the allegations of rape and sexual slavery against child soldiers beyond reasonable doubt, and that Ntaganda bears individual criminal responsibility for those crimes. It also convicted Ntaganda for acts of rape and sexual slavery committed by FPLC troops against non-Hema civilians (both male and female). Furthermore, in addition to those sexual violence crimes, Ntaganda was convicted of conscripting and enlisting child soldiers, using them to participate actively in hostilities, attacking the civilian population, murder and attempted murder, persecution on ‘ethnic’ grounds, forcible transfer, and displacement, attacking protected objects, pillage, and destruction of property. Therefore, he was held responsible for these crimes as a direct perpetrator and indirect co-perpetrator under Article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute. Accordingly, there is need for prosecutors in the SADC region to note that there is mounting evidence that gender-based violence committed against men and boys needs to be receiving increased attention.

Access to justice remains a key pillar towards the eradication of violence against women and girls. It contributes to break the circle of violence, provide adequate reparation to victims, and transform the circumstances that make women and girls vulnerable to violence. Enhancing the efforts of prosecutors as part of key justice responders in protecting the rights of women and girls is essential and the model law must do so.

It is important to highlight that we must continue to be determined in terms of promotion and protection of the rule of law with a special emphasis on advancing human rights of everyone but more so women and girls who continue to be vulnerable, despite a lot of efforts. Justice dispensation is a collective determination and effort of every person in the sector. Justice must be transformative and must have a Human Rights face. It is therefore imperative that prosecutors across SADC should be strategic and harnesses all its resources.

We nonetheless commend our legislators for taking such a huge and bold step. It gives us Judiciaries as well as prosecutors, a good basis for expanding the laws on gender-based violence in our various jurisdictions. It offers prosecutors opportunities to go beyond the criminal justice space including advising victims on other possible actions available like taking the civil route in addition to the criminal justice route to redress human rights violations. The need to protect women and girls as well as men and boys from unwanted violence cannot be overemphasized when we talk of gender equality including women’s rights. We must be present.

In conclusion, let me leave you with the words of the Dalai Lama who said peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free. We must remain ready; we must be vigilant but more so ready to reduce the inequalities but also to prosecute with vigour gender-based violence cases in our countries.

I wish you a wonderful consultative meeting and as well wish you well as you continue to help eradicate gender-based violence across the SADC region.

Keynote Address - Justice Zione Ntaba - The SADC Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Model Law Consultative Meeting for Prosecutors from SADC Member States

Honourable Members, Ms Boemo Sekgoma-SADC PF Secretary General, and the Secretariat, it’s a great honour for me to make a closing statement for our meeting.

Honourable Members, I am delighted to note that as a Committee we have been able to meet virtually and   hold our meeting as planned, and let me take this opportunity to thank the secretariat for their effort to facilitate the holding of this meeting  

Honourable Members, during this meeting, though short, the Committee has discussed a number of crucial issues in relation to the implementation of the SRHR HIV/AIDS and Governance Project, and a report will be prepared for presentation to the Plenary Assembly.

Honourable Members, let me also express my sincere gratitude to our secretariat for updating the committee on the project implementation. The Presentations were quite informative, and consequently as a Committee we have learnt quite a lot and we now have a clear picture on how the project is being implemented.  

Honourable Members, without wasting much of your time, let me declare the meeting closed and wish you safe stay.

Thank you all, Honourable Members

Closing Remarks by the Chairperson of the HSDSP Committee Honourable Bertha Ndebele MP, 16 April 2021

PRESENT

• Bertha M. Ndebele Malawi (Chairperson)
• Luisa Damiao Angola
• Ts’epang Ts’ita Mosena Lesotho
• Jerónima Agostinho        Mozambique
• Nkhensani Kate Bilankulu South Africa
• Lucien Rakotomalala Madagascar
• Maria Langa-Phiri Zambia
• Joyce Makonya Zimbabwe

ABSENT  WITH APOLOGY

• Hon Ashley Ittoo Mauritius
• Hon Sebastian Karupu Namibia
• Hon Jamal K Ali Tanzania
• Hon Terence Mondoni Seychelles

SECRETARY

• Mr Dennis Gondwe, Secretary SADC PF Secretariat

IN ATTENDANCE

• Boemo M. Sekgoma Secretary General
• Ms Jabulile Malaza Eswatini
• Ms Agnes Lilungwe SADC PF Secretariat
• Trudi Hartzenberg Executive Director, Trade Law

Centre (Resource Person)

The meeting was called to order at 09:15 hours.

AGENDA

• Credentials of Delegates and Apologies.
• Welcome Remarks by the Chairperson.
• Adoption of Agenda.
• Consideration of Minutes from the previous Meeting held at Southern Sun Hotel O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa on 10^th March 2020, ahead of the 47^th Plenary Assembly Session.
• Noting of the COVID-19 Guidelines Released to National Parliaments and Consideration of the Adaptive Strategy for the Forum concerning the linkage between SRHR and COVID-19
• Commemoration of the International Safe Abortion Day 2020
• Presentation on the socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on the SADC Region
• Closing Remarks by the Chairperson

CREDENTIALS OF DELEGATES AND APOLOGIES

Apologies were recorded from the national Parliaments of Botswana, Namibia, Mauritius, Seychelles and Tanzania. 8 out of the 15 Member Parliaments were present. Accordingly, the meeting was deemed to be properly constituted.

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

The draft Agenda was adopted without amendments on a motion by Mozambique and seconded by Zimbabwe.

 WELCOME REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON

In her welcome remarks, the Chairperson, Hon Bertha Ndebele, recalled the meeting of the 10^th March 2020 held in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the HSDSP Committee had deliberated on a number of issues, including the implementation status of the second phase of the SRHR, HIV and AIDS Governance Project which fell under the Committee’s oversight ambit, the proposal for the development of the Model Law on Public Financial Management and the recruitment of the Programme Manager for the HSDSP and GEWAYD Standing Committees. In the same meeting, the Committee had also requested to be briefed on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the SADC Region hence the inclusion of the said briefing on the agenda of this meeting. Hon. Ndebele commended the Secretariat for securing a resource person to sensitize the Committee on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which was adversely affecting not only the Region but the entire globe. To that end, the meeting was being held under the current and relevant theme, “The need to adapt to COVID-19 and streamline response measures taken in the view of uplifting the SRHR Agenda of SADC Member Parliaments.”

Hon. Ndebele noted that in line with its Vision of standing as “the flag-bearer of democratization and socio-economic development in the SADC Region” the SADC PF had proactively developed and released COVID-19 Guidelines for National Parliaments to assist them to respond to the pandemic in a harmonized, rights-based manner. The HSDSP Committee, as the Committee directly responsible for championing human and social development issues at the Forum was thus duty bound to consider the Guidelines as well as the adaptive strategies and, where necessary, provide direction in the implementation of the same given the differential impact of COVID-19 on SRHR in the different Member States. It was thus imperative that the Members of the HSDSP Committee be capacitated on the impact of the pandemic and possible response strategies as this would enable them to spearhead debate at the Forum and in their national Parliaments.

CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD AT SOUTHERN SUN HOTEL O.R. TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA ON 10^th MARCH 2020, AHEAD OF THE 47^TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY SESSION.

The Committee considered the minutes of the previous meeting, and the following corrections were made:

• That on page 1, the name of Hon. Maqelepo be removed on the list of those absent with apologies;
• That on page 5, Item 5.1 first sentence the word ‘including’ be replaced with ‘namely’
• That on Page 5 on the table reflecting SRHR Researchers the spelling of the name of the SRHR Researcher appointed by the Parliament of Lesotho be corrected to “Ntsoaki Chabeli”
• That on page 6 Item 5.2 be rephrased to ‘each staff member’
• That on page 10 Item 7.0 be rephrased to “…the Secretary General provided the link to the WHO website for more information”

On the motion by Mozambique and seconded by Zimbabwe the minutes of the previous meeting held on 10^th March 2020 were adopted as a correct record of proceedings subject to the afore stated amendments.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING, HELD AT SOUTHERN SUN HOTEL O.R. TAMBO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA ON 10^TH MARCH 2020, AHEAD OF THE 47^TH PLENARY ASSEMBLY SESSION.

There were no Matters Arising from the Minutes of the previous meeting.

NOTING OF THE COVID-19 GUIDELINES RELEASED TO NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS AND CONSIDERATION OF THE ADAPTIVE STRATEGY FOR THE FORUM CONCERNING THE LINKAGE BETWEEN SRHR AND COVID-19.

The Secretary General briefed the meeting that in line with the Forum’s Vision of being ‘the flag-bearer of democratisation and socio-economic development in the SADC Region,’ it was imperative for Member Parliaments and Members of the SADC PF to keep abreast with contemporary developmental issues, including strategies to counter and adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic which had been declared a disease of International Public Health Concern (IPHC) by the World Health Organisation (WHO). To that end, the SADC PF had come up with the Guidelines for National Parliaments to Address the COVID-19 Outbreak (Attached as Annexure 1) as a framework to buttress short and long-term interventions by national Parliaments and Governments in the region. The Guidelines were informed by public health principles contained in Model Laws that had been developed by the Forum, including the quest for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which had been the theme of the 46^th Plenary Assembly held in Swakopmund, Namibia in December 2019, as well as international public health principles outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) among others.

The Guidelines were also predicated on Parliament’s role in mitigating the pandemic including, but not limited to, policy-making and enactment of legislation as well as budgetary oversight. To that end, the Guidelines provided pointers to Members on what they should look out for in fulfilling their legislative, policy and budgetary oversight and representative role in the fight against COVID-19 within the remit of UHC. This included embedding principles of equality, access to health care services, observance of human rights, protection and promotion of frontline staff and access to SRHR services which had become more prominent during the pandemic. For instance, cases of teenage pregnancies, gender-based violence, intimate partner rape and rape in general had increased while access to health care services such as cervical cancer screening and access to anti-retroviral treatment had also been seriously compromised. It was thus critical for Parliament to enquire into and deliberate on these issues as well as ensuring that budgetary allocations cover this broad spectrum of SRHR issues which had been heightened by the pandemic. The Guidelines thus provided a user-friendly one-stop guideline in looking at this whole gamut of SRHR related issues.

The Guidelines also outlined the possible adaptive strategies by national Parliaments and how Parliaments could streamline SRHR issues within these response initiatives. For instance, it was highly probable that national Parliaments would prioritise the enactment of COVID-19 related emergency legislation during the prevalence of the pandemic at the expense of any other legislation. It would be important, therefore, for Members to ensure that SRHR issues do not take a back seat during the pandemic given the upturn in SRHR indicators during the pandemic. Thus it would be prudent for national Parliaments to prioritise both SRHR and COVID-19 related legislation despite giving greater priority to the latter.

The Secretary General stated that over and above budgetary oversight, the Guidelines also provided for increased oversight on institutions and agencies of the State during the pandemic. It was just as important for national Parliaments to ensure prudential allocation and use of resources during this crisis period as it was for them to prevent arbitrary wastage of public funds. It would also be important for Parliaments to demonstrate inclusivity and an increased willingness to champion SRHR issues of communities and vulnerable groups during the pandemic. To this end, Members of the HSDSP Committee were expected to engage citizens at the community level to hear their concerns and report to the Committee on the same. Members were also implored to influence their Committees at the national level to adopt and implement the Guidelines and again report on what they had done in this regard at the next meeting.

In the ensuing deliberations, the Chairperson underscored the importance of the Guidelines particularly, their insistence on Members keeping tabs on SRHR issues during the pandemic. Hon. Ndebele confirmed that, indeed, teenage pregnancies had gone up exponentially in Malawi with the Ministry of Health confirming that the rate of teenage pregnancies had risen from 29% to 35% since March 2020. To that end, it was imperative for Members of the HSDSP Committee to internalise the Guidelines and the adaptive strategies and champion them in their respective national Parliaments.

COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SAFE ABORTION DAY 2020

As part of belated commemorations of the International Safe Abortion Day held on 28^th September 2020 under the theme, “Telemedicine, self-managed abortion and access to safe abortion in the context of COVID-19 pandemic,” the Committee was treated to an illustrative video which highlighted the prevalence of unsafe abortions and their negative impact on women and girls in the region. The video revealed that, though most countries in the Region were averse to legalising safe abortion, one (1) in every four (4) pregnancies in Southern Africa ended in abortion while sixteen thousand (16 000) women die each year from abortion related complications. 74% of unsafe abortions ended in death and the reasons for unsafe abortion varied from rape to unmet needs for contraceptives as well as poverty.

However, these fatalities could be avoided if women and adolescent girls are given unrestricted access to safe abortion services and contraceptives. Instead, girls and women have had to suffer the ignominy of stigma and ostracism that often comes with unsafe abortion let alone the trauma and lifelong internal injuries associated with the same. Unsafe abortions were also impacting negatively on the development of women and adolescent girls in the Region as the victims are often forced to drop out of school due to stigmatisation and thus miss out on economic opportunities. In this regard, unsafe abortions have adverse economic consequences for governments and the public health system as the cost of having safe abortions was estimated to be less than a tenth of the cost of caring for women after abortion. Additionally, loss of income and the cost of recovery from unsafe abortions exerted a major financial burden on families, communities and the public health system.

Restrictive policies and legislation were the major stumbling block to safe abortion and unrestricted access to contraceptives. Even in cases where safe abortion is permissible, other barriers such as the distance to the health care service centre, lack of information on safe abortion, social norms and cultural practices that perceive abortion as taboo and sinful and stigma drove women and adolescent girls underground into unsafe abortion practices. Governments and Parliaments in the SADC Region thus had it within their power to stem the growing tide of unsafe abortions and save lives by:

• Enacting progressive SRHR policies and legislation that promote safe abortion and access to contraceptives.
• Speaking out against stigma, social norms and cultural practices that force women and adolescent girls to opt for clandestine unsafe abortions.
• Educating health service providers on ethical conduct that is non-judgemental and supportive of safe abortion.
• Enhancing access to sexual and reproductive health information.
• Lobbying for the implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education to prevent early and unwanted pregnancies

Making abortion legal and accessible would thus improve the lives of communities by reducing maternal mortality and morbidity, keeping the girl child in school and increasing sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Consequently, putting policies in place that expand access to safe abortion would lower health care costs and achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

The Committee noted and acknowledged the need to promote safe abortion in the SADC Region by enacting enabling legislation and policies. The Committee recognised that in the absence of enabling legislation unsafe abortion would continue unabated and the Region would continue to lose the potential human capital resident in women and adolescent girls.

PRESENTATION ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON

THE SADC REGION: TRUDY HARTZENBERG, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TRADE LAW CENTRE

 Ms Hartzenberg prefaced her presentation by acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected everyone, some more closely than others, and had changed the way we live, the way we relate and the way we do business. She asserted that the COVID-19 pandemic was a health crisis in the first instance which had morphed into a global economic crisis and a developmental crisis for Africa. This had been exacerbated by Africa’s vulnerability to crises due to the continent’s fragile health systems, the largely informal economies and a heavy reliance on tourism and trade which were adversely impacted by the closure of borders. COVID-19 had thus exposed existing vulnerabilities, inequalities and exclusions and unearthed new ones. The pandemic had brought to the fore the need for Africa and the region to review its national, regional and continental development priorities as well as the importance of regional integration, regional co-operation and collaborative regional responses in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and any other crises that may arise in future. It was thus important to review some of the response initiatives that countries in the region had taken with a view to galvanising reconstruction, recovery and building resilience.

The presenter noted that from the time the first case was discovered in Egypt on 14^th February 2020, African countries had stepped up their capacity to test and trace cases of infection. In that respect, African countries had proven that in a short space of time they could develop their capacities and strengthen their health care systems- a positive development which Africa and the region should build on for future resilience.

In terms of national emergency response measures, the presenter noted that most countries either declared the pandemic a state of emergency or a national disaster, both of which are governed by national constitutions and are subject to Parliamentary oversight. These declarations were both legitimate and appropriate and allowed States to muster the resources necessary to fight the pandemic timeously. However, it must be noted that some of the emergency measures, including national lockdowns, had had a severe and lasting impact on the economies of SADC countries in terms of income generation and employment. An increasing number of people had lost their livelihoods, among them cross border traders who were mostly women, tour operators, small and medium enterprises. It was thus urgent and imperative for policy-makers to start factoring this into the planning process for post-COVID recovery and job creation.

Ms Hartzenberg also reminded the Committee that the rule of law is no suspended during states of emergency/national disasters. It was, therefore, the role of Parliament to ensure that the rule of law is observed and further that the measures adopted are legitimate and appropriate within the ambit of the state of emergency. The presenter highlighted that national emergency measures do not only impact on the national territory but can go further to adversely affect neighbouring countries. For instance, the closure of a border has an immediate impact on neighbouring countries particularly in view of the configuration of the SADC Region which has a number of landlocked countries. This impacts on trade routes and renders access to food supplies difficult thus making food security a major concern. Access to medicinal requirements and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was also disturbed by the closure of borders. Additionally, international agreements, among them, Article 9 of the SADC Protocol on Trade, allow for exceptions during states of emergency and enable countries to place restrictions on exports while allowing imports by, for example, lowering import duty on certain goods. However, when governments entertain these measures they recognise the impact that it will have but the measures are adopted to protect the interests of their citizens even if they have an impact beyond their national jurisdiction or boundaries. Thus the pandemic also affected trading across borders.

On a positive note, the COVID-19 pandemic had enhanced the use of information and communication technology. The presenter noted that some countries had begun accepting e-certificates of origin in payments, e-certificates for standards and communicating digitally to expedite decisions and facilitate trade. The lesson to be learnt was that if digital trade solutions work in the Region during the time of the pandemic, then there was need to seriously consider adopting them post-COVID as they bring significant cost and time savings and reduce the transaction cost of doing business which disproportionately impacts SMEs. However, the region must remain wary that digital trade is contingent upon network connectivity and energy security which the Region has to improve.

Conversely, the coronavirus had exposed Africa and the region’s vulnerability. The presenter pointed out that Africa as a continent is home to thirty-three (33) of the world’s forty-seven (47) least developed countries. Of those 33, fourteen (14) are landlocked which brings its own challenges while some are also small island countries which brings additional challenges. To this end, the budgets of the majority of nations had been stretched to the limit in attempting to mitigate the pandemic leaving them largely dependent on external support. While this support was welcome, the presenter cautioned that some of the support would only worsen the national debt post-COVID 19. This would have a bearing on reconstruction and recovery efforts. It was, therefore, important for Parliaments to closely monitor the national debt with a view to ensuring that it does not adversely affect the country’s resilience in future.

Ms Hartzenberg also flagged the strain that had been placed by the COVID-19 pandemic on diaspora remittances as one of the economic effects of the pandemic. She noted that in some countries, diaspora remittances make a significant contribution to financial inflows at the household and national level. As such they were critical for livelihoods and access to essential services and supplies. Regrettably, the World Investment Report predicted that foreign direct investment to African countries would decline by between 25% and 40% which is a very significant reduction particularly in view of the fact that most African countries did not generate enough savings to translate into domestic investment. National Parliaments were, therefore, duty-bound to initiate dialogue and find solutions to the heavy dependence on diaspora remittances going forward.

The presenter noted that though generally the statistics appeared to show that there was a greater infection rate among men than women in the SADC Region, there was an unfortunate dearth of statistics in relation to how the pandemic was impacting on women and girls at the household and national level. It was imperative, therefore, for solid, evidence-based research to be carried out to determine the economic and social impact of the pandemic on women and girls at the household and community level.

The pandemic had also resulted in a significant reduction in commodity prices on the international market due to a decline in demand resulting from the closure of borders and national lockdowns. For instance, the price of oil had gone down leading to a concomitant reduction in the price of fuel in some countries. Additionally, the pandemic had also culminated in an inevitable shrinking of the tourism sector and related downstream sectors by 3.3%. The Region’s recovery was thus inextricably tied to the recovery of the global economy.

True to the maxim that says “necessity is the mother of invention,” the pandemic had also exposed the ingenuity of business people and young people in the Region. UNICEF had launched a COVID-19 Design Innovation Challenge and youths from the length and breadth of the continent had responded positively with new products and new digital solutions. A case in point was the 23-year old Malawian national who had developed an offline mobile learning application. The majority of inventions were digital innovations which would put the Region at a competitive advantage on the global market post-COVID.

The presenter commended Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and the SADC PF for issuing Guidelines and recommendations to assist SADC countries in the fight against the pandemic. She noted that the Guidelines developed by the SADC PF, which called for co-operation among Member States, had been proactively issued in April, shortly after the outbreak of the pandemic, which demonstrated the Forum’s responsiveness to issues affecting the region. However, she noted with dismay that whilst the Guidelines provided a comprehensive reference point for adaptive strategies, the major drawback was that they were not binding on Member States and thus could not be enforced. She called upon the Committee to find ways of ensuring that the Guidelines are implemented.

In view of the foregoing impact of the pandemic, the presenter made the following recommendations:

• She called on Africa and the region to focus on enhancing its productive capacity by harnessing the intellect of students at universities and tertiary institutions to repurpose the Region’s productive capacity.
• She stressed the need for consultation, co-operation and a co-ordinated regional response in customs and border management, harmonisation of tariffs and trade facilitation, among other issues.
• She implored policy-makers in the Region to initiate discussions on post-COVID recovery, reconstruction and resilience. The discussions ought to centre on diversification and developing productive capacity, food security in terms of linking agriculture to industrial development, trade facilitation, development of the services sector, that is, health care, education, transport, communications, including digital health care solutions which remained untapped, and enhancing Governments’ capacity to respond to and manage crises.

In the ensuing deliberations, the Chairperson expressed the Committee’s appreciation to Ms Trudi Hartzenberg for an informative and eye-opening presentation. The Chairperson conceded that, indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic had thrown the spotlight on the need for SADC countries to work together in fighting the pandemic following the realisation that what affected one country was likely to affect its neighbours. To that end, the Committee undertook to use the presentation as an informative baseline in lobbying for the implementation of the Guidelines.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

In her concluding remarks, the Chairperson thanked the Secretariat for laying the groundwork for a successful meeting. She also reiterated the Committee’s appreciation to Ms Hartzenberg for taking time off her busy schedule to deliver an enriching and mutually edifying presentation. She averred that the information they had been given would allow the Committee Members to make evidence-based interventions during deliberations in their national Parliaments and at the Forum.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

There being no further business to transact, the meeting adjourned at 12:12 hours.

Minutes of the HSDSP for the meeting of 16 October 2020

NA

REUNIÃO VIRTUAL DA COMISSÃO PERMANENTE SUBORDINADA AO LEMA «PELO APROVEITAMENTO DO TURISMO INTERNO EM TEMPOS DE PANDEMIA: O CASO DA PANDEMIA DE COVID-19 - O PAPEL DOS PARLAMENTOS»

RECONHECIMENTO DAS ENTIDADES PRESENTES NA SESSÃO

• Prezados membros da Comissão Permanente de Alimentação, Agricultura e Recursos Naturais;
• Boemo Sekgoma, Secretária-geral do FP-SADC;
• Nossos distintos Palestrantes;
• Distintos Participantes;
• Minhas Senhoras e meus Senhores.

É uma grande honra e privilégio desejar-lhes as boas-vindas a esta reunião da Comissão Permanente de Alimentação, Agricultura e Recursos Naturais.

Prezados membros da comissão, estamos reunidos para deliberarmos sobre a temática do «Aproveitamento do Turismo Interno em Tempos de Pandemia: O Caso da Pandemia de COVID-19 – O Papel dos Parlamentos.»

Como já é do conhecimentos dos ilustres membros da comissão, completamos mais de um ano desde o surgimento da pandemia de COVID-19. O mundo tem continuado a enfrentar muitos desafios socioeconómicos como resultado da pandemia. As restrições impostas pela COVID levaram à paralisação da economia mundial e do sector turístico. Esta pandemia tem tido, em especial, um impacto profundo sobre o sector turístico global. As restrições de viagens, as quarentenas e o fecho dos transportes levou a cerca de 22 por cento de redução das chegadas de turistas estrangeiros no primeiro trimestre de 2020, em comparação com 2019, e possivelmente até 60 a 80 por cento durante o resto do ano de 2020.^[1]

Prezados membros da comissão, segundo o Conselho Mundial de Viagens e Turismo, a pandemia de COVID-19 poderia cortar cerca de 50 milhões de empregos em todo o mundo na indústria de viagens e turismo.^[2] Importa assinalar que a indústria do turismo representa cerca de 10 por cento do produto interno bruto mundial.

Os desafios acima destacados são ainda agravados pelo facto de que os mercados-fonte do turismo da África tais como a China, os Estados Unidos da América e a Europa estão entre os países mais afectados pela pandemia. Estes países estabeleceram paralisações parciais e totais bem como outras restrições de deslocações.  Embora alguns especialistas estejam a postular que o turismo interno está a dar um impulso à recuperação de vários destinos turísticos, isto é apenas em parte, uma vez que não está a compensar pela queda da demanda internacional.

Mais projecções indicam que, na maior parte dos países, não é provável que o turismo volte aos seus níveis pré-pandemia até cerca de 2023. Isto pode ser até pior para a África, uma vez que os seus sectores de turismo e viagens são afectados de forma desproporcional pela pandemia, aliando-se a outros desafios socioeconómicos que foram precipitados pela pandemia. É bem possível que a África leve mais tempo a recuperar do que as outras regiões, principalmente devido à falta da demanda interna e intra-regional. O turismo pode também não ser uma prioridade para muitos governos africanos, uma vez que as preocupações por outros sectores tais como os cuidados de saúde, a pequena indústria de produção de bens e a agricultura poderiam ser mais imperiosas.  Como resultado, antecipa-se que o impacto sobre o sector turístico em África seja abrangente e de longa duração. A África Austral já está a sentir o impacto, e as Seicheles, as Maurícias, a África do Sul, a Zâmbia e o Zimbabwe, entre outros países, registaram quedas acentuadas de chegadas de turistas estrangeiros. A UNWTO tinha dado a conhecer que 100 por cento dos destinos no mundo continuam a ter restrições de viagens, e 72 por cento fecharam completamente as suas fronteiras ao turismo internacional.

Prezados membros da comissão, é absolutamente claro para todos nós que o turismo desempenha um papel fundamental nas nossas economias. O turismo contribui significativamente par o PIB, as receitas das exportações, o emprego, o investimento no capital humano e infra-estrutural dos países da SADC. Portanto, o turismo tem o potencial de ser um catalisador para a recuperação em muitos cantos da região.

Prezados membros da comissão, com empenho e dedicação, é possível que o turismo possa regressar aos níveis em que se encontrava antes da pandemia. A diversificação, a transição para modelos de turismo mais sustentáveis e o investimento nas novas tecnologias poderiam ajudar a dar corpo à recuperação. Esta é uma oportunidade para os respectivos Estados membros colocarem o turismo no centro das suas atenções e apoiá-lo. Além disso, as políticas e intervenções dos governos serão cruciais para a recuperação do sector turístico.

Cabe, portanto, aos países membros começarem a reexaminar os respectivos sectores turísticos no contexto da pandemia da COVID 19. É fundamental que trilhemos caminhos inovadores capazes de criar sectores turísticos sustentáveis e resilientes que possam aguentar mesmo em tempos de crises tais como a pandemia de COVID-19.

Prezados membros, como já foi aludido, muitos países da SADC prosperam graças aos turistas estrangeiros. A pandemia de COVID-19 só veio confirmar este facto. Presume-se também que o turismo internacional só vai recuperar depois da implementação efectiva de uma vacina. O desafio que os Estados membros estão a enfrentar actualmente é de saber como suster as operações e preservar os empregos até que a crise conheça um abrandamento. Nesta altura, e antes da plena implementação da vacina, a nossa esperança está depositada no turismo interno.

Antes do surto da pandemia, talvez alguns Estados membros tivessem tomado medidas deliberadas visando dinamizar o turismo interno. Consta também que alguns países membros tomaram medidas no sentido de mitigar o impacto da crise sobre o turismo.  Contudo, tendo em conta o impacto profundo que a pandemia da COVID-19 tem tido sobre o turismo na região da SADC, é imperativo que sejam tomadas medidas urgentes com vista a minimizar os impactos económicos. 

Compete, portanto, aos países da SADC começarem a repensar o turismo e concentrarem-se no aumento da promoção do turismo e de viagens intra-africanas. Isto vai servir como catalisador para impulsionar a recuperação e estimular o crescimento na indústria.

O papel dos parlamentares nesta questão é fundamental, uma vez que requer a adopção de políticas e a tomada de medidas legislativas que possam dinamizar o turismo interno. É também essencial que os parlamentos façam o lóbi em prol de mais dotações orçamentais destinadas ao sector turístico, para acelerar a recuperação.

Prezados membros da comissão, hoje temos o privilégio de contar com especialistas no nosso seio, e não tenho dúvida alguma de que, no fim da reunião, estaremos equipados com a informação que nos vai ajudar a propor recomendações que podem contribuir para a criação de sectores turísticos resilientes.

Tenho agora a honra e o privilégio de declarar a reunião da Comissão Permanente de Alimentação, Agricultura e Recursos Naturais oficialmente aberta.

Obrigado.

^[1]UNWTO (2020a), Barómetro do Turismo no Mundo, vol. 18, n.º 2, Maio

^[2]WTTC (2020), a pesquisa mais recente do WTTC mostra um aumento de 50% de empregos em risco nas Viagens & Turismo, Conselho Mundial de Viagens e Turismo (WTTC), pode ser acessado em: https://www.wttc.org/about/media-centre/press-releases/press-releases/2020

Alocução De Boas-Vindas Pelo Presidente Da Comissão Permanente De Alimentação, Agricultura E Recursos Naturais Do FP-SADC Sua Excelência André Leon Tumba

Segunda-feira, 12 de Abril de 2021

Lema:         Pelo Aproveitamento do Turismo Interno em Tempos de Pandemia: O Caso da Pandemia de COVID-19 – O Papel dos Parlamentos

 INTRODUÇÃO

O mundo enfrenta uma crise sanitária, social e económica sem precedente por causa da pandemia da COVID-19. Desde o seu surgimento em Dezembro de 2019, a pandemia tem continuado a fazer sentir os seus efeitos devastadores sobre as economias mundiais, incluindo as de muitos países africanos. O surto e os confinamentos concomitantes têm exercido um impacto tremendo sobre a indústria turística a nível mundial, e os países africanos têm sido negativamente afectados, sobretudo os que dependem de turistas estrangeiros.  As restrições de viagens, as quarentenas e os fechos dos transportes levaram a cerca de 22 por cento de redução das chegadas de turistas internacionais em 2020, em comparação com 2019 e possivelmente 60 a 80 por cento ao longo de todo o ano.^[1] Actualmente, a indústria de viagens e turismo está a lutar para a sobrevivência, e uma estimativa de 50 milhões de empregos no mundo estão em risco devido à pandemia.

As projecções da Perspectiva da Economia Mundial indicam que a economia mundial contraiu em 4,4% durante 2020, e o choque nas economias dependentes do turismo seria muito mais acentuado. O produto interno bruto real dos países africanos dependentes do turismo diminuiu em 12 por cento.  Projecta-se igualmente que os países dependentes do turismo estão na iminência de sentir os impactos negativos da crise durante muito mais tempo do que as outras economias, porque os serviços que necessitam de contactos intensivos que são imprescindíveis para os sectores do turismo e das viagens são afectados de forma desproporcional pela pandemia e vão continuar a debater-se até que as pessoas se sintam seguras para voltarem a viajar.^[2]

Embora o turismo interno esteja a dar um impulso à recuperação de vários destinos, na maior parte dos casos  a referida recuperação é apenas parcial, uma vez que não está a compensar pela queda da demanda internacional. Esta situação dá razão à premissa de que não se espera que as receitas do turismo a nível mundial recuperem para os níveis de 2019 até 2023.

Tendo em consideração o impacto negativo que a pandemia da COVID-19 está a ter sobre as economias da maior parte dos países da SADC, particularmente sobre a indústria turística, que é um principal contribuinte para o PIB da maior parte dos países da África Austral, é imperativo que sejam adoptadas medidas ou reforçadas as políticas e leis existentes, com vista a sustentar o turismo nos países da SADC. É neste contexto que a comissão vai apreciar o lema «Pelo Aproveitamento do Turismo Interno em Tempos de Pandemia: O Caso da Pandemia de COVID-19: O Papel dos Parlamentos».

OBJECTIVO GERAL E OBJECTIVOS ESPECÍFICOS DA REUNIÃO

A reunião da Comissão Permanente de Alimentação, Agricultura e Recursos Naturais tem como objectivo a exploração de vias que podem ser seguidas para dinamizar o turismo interno durante a pandemia da COVID-19 e depois.

Tem os seguintes objectivos específicos:

• apreciar os desafios que os Estados membros estão a enfrentar para sustentar o sector turístico como resultado da pandemia da COVID-19;
• aprender como a inovação e a digitalização podem ajudar a optimizar o turismo nos Estados membros;
• criar medidas sustentáveis e estratégias visando dinamizar o turismo interno; e
• fazer recomendações sobre a forma como o turismo pode ser sustentado em tempos de pandemia.

METODOLOGIA

Esta actividade realizar-se-á em formato virtual na plataforma Zoom. A comissão vai beneficiar de comunicações especializadas a serem apresentadas pela Organização Mundial do Turismo (UNWTO), pelo Secretariado da SADC e pelo Mercado Comum para a África Oriental e Austral (COMESA), que possuem uma grande visão sobre o tópico a partir de estudos que foram realizados acerca do impacto da pandemia da COVID-19 sobre a economia mundial, que inclui o turismo.

RESULTADOS PREVISTOS

Espera-se que a reunião traga à ribalta medidas e estratégias que podem promover o turismo interno nos países da SADC. Decorrendo destas medidas, prevê-se que os ilustres membros obtenham conhecimentos valiosos sobre formas de gerir o turismo, mesmo a meio de uma pandemia como a da COVID-19. Isto vai, por sua vez, capacitar os ilustres membros a fazerem recomendações através dos vários processos nos seus respectivos países.

^[1] https://www.unwto.org/news/covid-19-international-tourist-numbers-could-fall-60-80-in-2020.

^[2] https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/fandd/2020/12/impact-of-the-pandemic-on-tourism-behsudi.htm

Documento De Síntese Reunião Virtual Da Comissão Permanente De Alimentação, Agricultura E Recursos Naturais

PRESENÇAS

Excelência. Marapeleng Malefane,  Vice Presidente do      Lesoto

Excelência. Tshitereke Baldwin Matibe                                 Africa do Sul

Excelência. Polson Majaga                                                   Botswana

Excelência. Princesa Phumelele Dlamini                              Eswatini

Excelência. Lova Herizo Rajabelina                                      Madagáscar

Excelência. Tambudzani Mohadi                                           Zimbabwe

AUSÊNCIAS

Excelência Andre Leon Tumba, Presidente                          RDC

Excelência. Prof. Nkandu Luo                                               Zâmbia

Excelência. Marie Genevieve Stephanie Anquetil                 Maurícia

Excelência. Samuel Kawala                                                  Malawi

Excelência. Helena Bonguela Abel                                        Angola

Excelência. Carlos Manuel                                                    Moçambique

Presentes

Sra. Boemo Mmandu Sekgoma, Secretária-Geral (FP- SADC)

Sr. Sheuneni Kurasha, Gestor do Programa (FP- SADC)

Dr Lewis Hove  Chefe da Equipa de Resiliência, Escritório 

Sub-regional para a África Austral, Organização das Nações Unidas para a Alimentação e Agricultura.

Chikondi Chavuta Conselheiro da África Oriental e Austral Para questões Action Aids Internacional.

AGENDA

• Verificação das presenças e ausências justificadas.
• Adopção da Agenda.
• Alocuções de abertura.
• Análise da acta da Comissão Permanente da Alimentação e Agricultura (FANR) realizada de 9 a 10 de Julho de 2020.
• Consideração de questões decorrentes da acta da reunião da Comissão Permanente da FANR realizada no dia 9 a 10 de Julho de 2020.
• Comunicação e debate sobre o tema 'O Impacto (da Praga) do Gafanhoto Migratório Africano na Agricultura e Segurança Alimentar na África Austral: O que podem fazer os Parlamentos".

A reunião teve o seu início as 10:06 hrs.

VERIFICAÇÃO DAS PRESENÇAS E AUSÊNCIAS JUSTIFICADAS

Apresentaram-se as credenciais da Comissão e confirmou-se o quórum para que a reunião prosseguisse.

ADOPÇÃO DA AGENDA

Sob proposta da África do Sul e apoiada pelo Zimbabue, a Agenda foi adoptada tal como apresentada.

ALOCUÇÃO DE BOAS-VINDAS PELA PRESIDENTE

Em conformidade com o nº 2 do artigo 39º do Regulamento Interno do FP da  SADC e na ausência do Presidente e do Vice-Presidente, indicou-se um Membro presente, Sua Excelência Tshitereke Baldwin Matibe para presidir a reunião.

O Presidente indicado, Sua Excelência Matibe deu boas-vindas a todos os membros à reunião. Subsequentemente deu boas-vindas especiais à Sra. Boemo Sekgoma, Secretária-Geral do FP da SADC.   O Presidente apresentou sua gratidão ao secretariado do FP da SADC por assegurar que as Comissões Permanentes do FP da SADC continuassem a reunir-se mesmo em condições difíceis resultantes das restrições impostas pela pandemia da COVID 19.  O Presidente observou que por causa do desafio da COVID 19 as reuniões fossem realizadas virtualmente através da plataforma zoom. Contudo, este novo desenvolvimento tinha exposto os desafios que muitos países da África Austral enfrentavam no que diz respeito às tecnologias de informação e comunicação, particularmente a fraca conectividade à Internet. A esse respeito, Sua Excelência Presidente Matibe exortou a Comissão a interessar-se pelas questões das Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação.

Sua Excelência Presidente Matibe informou a Comissão Permanente que a reunião foi convocada sob o tema 'O Impacto (da Praga) do Gafanhoto Migratório Africano na Agricultura e Segurança Alimentar na África Austral: O que podem fazer os Parlamentos".   Tomou boa nota, de que o surto da LMA constituiu uma ameaça séria à agricultura e a segurança alimentar na África Austral.    Informou a Comissão que mesmo antes da incursão do AML, os sectores agrícolas da maioria dos países da África Austral estavam sob estresse devido aos impactos das alterações climáticas, tais como inundações e secas.  Informou o Comité que a maior parte da região da África Austral dependia fortemente da agricultura como o seu pilar principal e que qualquer impacto no sector colocava sérios problemas socioeconómicos.  Declarou que a Sessão se concentraria, portanto, em medidas que pudessem melhorar a crise.  O Presidente concluiu com as suas considerações de boas-vindas exortando a todos os Membros a participar activamente nas deliberações.

 CONSIDERAÇÃO E ADOPÇÃO DA ACTA DA REUNIÃO VIRTUAL DA COMISSÃO PERMANENTE DA FANR REALIZADA NA QUINTA-FEIRA, 10 E SEXTA-FEIRA, 10 DE JULHO DE 2020

Sob proposta da África do Sul e secundada por Estwatini, as actas da Comissão Permanente da FANR foram aprovadas como um verdadeiro reflexo das reuniões realizadas na quinta-feira, 9 e sexta-feira, 10 de quinta-feira, Julho de 2020

MATÉRIAS DA REUNIÃO VIRTUAL DA COMISSAO DE PONTUALIZAÇÃO DA FANR TERÇA-FEIRA, 9 E Sexta-feira, 10 de Julho, 2020

Não se levantou quaisquer correcções e questões e as actas foram aprovadas como um verdadeiro reflexo das reuniões da Comissão Permanente de FANR que tiveram lugar na quinta-feira, 9 e sexta-feira, 10 de Julho de 2020.

A fim de obter informações sobre o assunto em consideração, a Comissão Permanente da FANR recebeu apresentações dos seguintes peritos no assunto:

• Dr Lewis Hove Chefe da Equipa de Resiliência Escritório Sub-regional para a África Austral, Organização das Nações Unidas para a Alimentação e Agricultura
• Chikondi Chavuta Conselheiro da África Oriental e Austral para questões, ActionAid Internacional.

Destaque das comunicações, incluindo o debate plenário, as conclusões e recomendações foram as seguintes.

 O IMPACTO (DA PRAGA) DO GAFANHOTO MIGRATÓRIO AFRICANO NA AGRICULTURA E SEGURANÇA ALIMENTAR

• A praga do gafanhoto migratório africano (AML) representa uma ameaça para a agricultura e a segurança alimentar na África Austral e, se não for controlado, é susceptível de exacerbar a crise alimentar já existente na região.
• O surto da AML foi registado pela primeira vez em Maio de 2020 e desde então oito Estados-membros da SADC tinham sido afectados, nomeadamente; Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Moçambique, Namíbia, África do Sul, Tanzânia e Zâmbia.
• A LMA representava um perigo para a produção de culturas e o pastoreio do gado durante a época agrícola de 2020/2021 e mais além.
• De acordo ao Relatório de Avaliação e Análise da Vulnerabilidade Regional da SADC 2020, cerca de 44,8 milhões de pessoas na região da África Austral já se encontravam em situação de insegurança alimentar mesmo antes do surgimento do surto de LMA.
• A Comunidade de Desenvolvimento da África Austral tinha recebido um apoio enorme vindo da Organização das Nações Unidas para a Alimentação e Agricultura, da Comunidade de Desenvolvimento da África Austral e da Organização Internacional de Controlo de Gafanhotos Vermelhos para a África Central e Austral. que tinha culminado no lançamento do Plano Regional de Resposta a Locustas com um apoio orçamental no valor de 4,3 milhões de dólares destinados à vigilância, operações de controlo e à salvaguarda dos meios de subsistência do impacto do AML.
• Na última década, a região da África Austral testemunhou surtos de pragas e doenças vegetais transfronteiriças que tinham causado estragos e resultou na redução da produção das principais culturas alimentares.
• Como resultado das alterações climáticas, houve um influxo de outras pragas e doenças vegetais igualmente destrutivas com potencial para ameaçar a segurança alimentar regional da SADC, tais como moscas da fruta, minhocas, tuta absoluta do mineiro de folha de tomate, murcha do fusarium da banana, vírus da banana buncy, vírus da mandioca castanha e doença da explosão do trigo.
• que a AML tinha exacerbado os desafios económicos que os Estados Membros já enfrentavam, incluindo as limitações de recursos colocados pelos mecanismos de resposta da COVID 19.
• Que algumas das pesticidas utilizadas para controlar a propagação da AML tinham potencial para causar efeitos adversos a saúde humana e nos ecossistemas.
• de que a pandemia da COVID 19 tinha exacerbado a crise alimentar na África Austral e que a segurança alimentar estava projectada para se deteriorar ainda mais.

Conclusões e Resoluções

Na sequência das comunicações e debates, a Comissão da FANR concluiu e resolveu o seguinte:

• Que os Parlamentos membros da SADC devem defender e pressionar os respectivos Governos para financiar e capacitar adequadamente as instituições mandatadas para gerir a praga da propagação dos gafanhotos Migratórios africanos.
• Os países da SADC devem assegurar a realização de avaliações de impacto ambiental a fim de monitorizar os potenciais danos ambientais que possam ser causados pela utilização de pesticidas químicas.
• Ser necessário que os Estados-Membros reforcem a vigilância, a partilha de informação e os sistemas de alerta prévia para pragas e doenças vegetais transfronteiriças.
• Os Estados-membros da SADC devem trabalhar de perto com a SADC e parceiros como a FAO, IRLCO-CSA e outras instituições para reforçar as ligações existentes para assegurar uma acção colectiva eficaz e atempada na gestão do LMA e outras pragas que ameaçam a segurança alimentar da região.
• A necessidade de os Estados Membros da SADC colaborarem com a Organização Internacional de Controlo de Gafanhotos Vermelhos para a África Central e Austral, a fim de beneficiarem das intervenções das duas organizações.
• Que os Estados-membros devem ter em conta os factores humanos e ambientais na eliminação de pesticidas químicas.
• Que os Estados Membros adoptem um sistema integrado de gestão de pragas no controlo da AML.
• Que os Estados-membros devem ter em conta as directrizes contidas na Convenção de Roterdão sobre a eliminação de pesticidas químicas a fim de proteger a saúde humana e o ambiente.
• Que os Estados Membros prestem apoio à indústria nacional para a produção e registo de bio pesticidas
• Os Parlamentos Nacionais devem utilizar os seus mandatos para encorajar os respectivos governos a tomarem medidas rápidas para controlar a propagação da AML.
• Os Estados-membros são instados a reforçar os mecanismos já existentes destinados a enfrentar as alterações climáticas, pois é evidente que os seus efeitos têm consequências de grande alcance tanto para os seres humanos como para o ambiente.

Não havendo outros assuntos a debater, a reunião da Comissão da FANR foi encerrada às 11:36 horas.

Acta Da Reunião Virtual Da Comissão Permanente De Alimentação, Agricultura E Recursos Naturais (FANR) Quarta-Feira, 11 De Novembro De 2020

Data:          Segunda-feira, 12 de Abril de 2021

Horário:     09:30 - 12:30

14:00 - 16:00

Local:         Reunião virtual

• Efectivos dos membros presentes e justificação de ausências

• Aprovação da agenda

• Alocução de boas-vindas pelo Presidente da comissão

• Análise da acta e das questões que necessitavam de seguimento a partir da reunião virtual da Comissão Permanente de Agricultura realizada na Quarta-feira, dia 11 de Novembro de 2020

• Análise do documento de síntese sobre o proposto lema da Comissão Permanente de FANR «Pelo Aproveitamento do Turismo Interno durante a Pandemia: O Caso da Pandemia de COVID-19 – O Papel dos Parlamentos»

• Diversos

AGENDA ANOTADA

ASSUNTOS PARA ANÁLISE

APROVAÇÃO DA AGENDA

Os membros são convidados a analisar e adoptar a proposta de agenda apresentada pela comissão.

ANÁLISE DA ACTA E DAS QUESTÕES QUE NECESSITAVAM DE SEGUIMENTO A PARTIR DA REUNIÃO VIRTUAL DA COMISSÃO PERMANENTE DE AGRICULTURA (FANR) REALIZADA EM 11 DE NOVEMBRO DE 202)

Como é do conhecimento dos membros, na última reunião virtual realizada em 11 de Novembro de 2020, a comissão analisou e fez as recomendações que abaixo se apresentam.

O IMPACTO DO GAFANHOTO MIGRATÓRIO AFRICANO (GMA) SOBRE A AGRICULTURA E A SEGURANÇA ALIMENTAR NA ÁFRICA AUSTRAL

Entre outras recomendações, a comissão exortou os Estados membros da SADC a trabalharem em estreita colaboração com a Organização das Nações Unidas para a Alimentação e Agricultura (FAO), o Secretariado da Comunidade de Desenvolvimento da África Austral (SADC), a Organização Internacional para o Controlo do Gafanhoto Vermelho na África Central e Austral (IRLCO-CSAO) e outras instituições, para fortalecerem as interligações existentes no sentido de assegurar uma acção colectiva eficaz e atempada na gestão do GMA e de outras pragas que ameaçam a segurança alimentar da África Austral. A comissão recomendou ainda que os parlamentos membros devem fazer a advocacia e o lóbi junto dos respectivos governos em prol do financiamento adequado e da criação da capacidade das instituições mandatadas para lidar com o controlo dos gafanhotos migratórios africanos.

Além disso, a comissão tinha exortado os Estados membros para adoptarem sistemas integrados de gestão de pragas na contenção dos gafanhotos, com vista a um controlo efectivo de uma propagação acentuada das pragas. Relativamente aos efeitos ambientais adversos, a comissão recomendou que os Estados Membros  devem periodicamente realizar avaliações de impacto ambiental, para determinarem os danos ambientais que possam ocorrer como resultado do uso de pesticidas químicos no controlo da praga do gafanhoto migratório africano.

 ANÁLISE DO DOCUMENTO DE SÍNTESE PARA A PROPOSTA DO LEMA DA COMISSÃO PERMANENTE DE FANR

A comissão é convidada a analisar e aprovar a proposta do lema: «Pelo Aproveitamento do Turismo Interno durante as Pandemias: O Caso da Pandemia de COVID-19 – O Papel dos Parlamentos»

Para ter uma ideia sobre o assunto, a comissão vai acompanhar comunicações da Organização Mundial do Turismo, do Mercado Comum para a África Oriental e Austral e da Comunidade de Desenvolvimento dos Países da África Austral.

DIVERSOS

SADC FP MISSÃO CONSULTIVA PRÉ-ELEITORAL NA ZÂMBIA

Interface Virtual entre o Comité Permanente do FP da SADC sobre Democratização, Governação e Direitos Humanos (DGHR) e os Intervenientes Eleitorais na Zâmbia em matéria de Domesticação da Lei Modelo da SADC sobre Eleições antes das Eleições Gerais de 2021 na Zâmbia

22 – 31 de Março de 2021

PROGRAMA