Moussa Faki Mahamat will see President Jacob Zuma, the Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, and other senior Government officials.

Moussa Faki Mahamat will focus on efforts to address some of the conflict and crisis situations on the continent; as well as on economic integration and development .

He’ll  meet with the heads of some of the South Africa-based African Union institutions: the Pan-African Parliament, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Planning and Coordinating Agency, the African Peer Review Mechanism, the African Commission of Nuclear Energy, the Pan-African University Institute for Space Sciences, the African Risk Capacity, the African Union Foundation and the Pan-African Women’s Organization.

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The 15-nation body’s Executive Secretary Stergomena Tax tells reporters overall political stability remains a priority as SADC grows into a significant economic bloc.

The theme of this week’s SADC summit, where President Jacob Zuma will assume the chairmanship of the body, is partnering the private sector to develop and grow economically.

The agenda, explained by South Africa’s Minister of  International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana Mashebane, is loaded with developmental and economic issues.

But the success of these rests on there being stability.

That will be the remit of SADC’s organ on politics, security and defence.

They’ve had success in bringing peace to Madagascar, but Lesotho and the DRC remain a worry.

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They’ll prepare the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting of their presidents. at the second binational commission.

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana Mashabane welcomed her Nambian counterpart Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah, saying they’re bent on projects that will help the continent and the region, but most importantly the people of their countries.

“The two sides have to date signed 71 agreements and memoranda of understanding. We must remember that our people have said to us  these are enablers, the real work is when we put hands on deck, “she said

Nandi Ndaitwah listed issues to be discussed to ensure the wellbeing of the people.

“Trade, energy, health, investment, wildlife, information and communication technology, higher education and training, science and technology as well as defence and security.”

She says better bilateral cooperation between South Africa and Namibia will greatly enhance integration of the SADC regional  grouping.

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Her remarks at the ministerial conference will vie repeated at the summit today where she’s heading the South African delegation.

South Africa’s muscular support for Palestine and Western Sahara puts it at odds with the respective occupying power Israel and Morocco.

Foreign policy chief Maite Nkoana-Mashabane recalls that President Nelson Mandela said South Africa will not be free as long as Palestine is not free.

She calls Morocco’s illegal occupation of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic the last colonial issue in Africa – which is anathema to the 120-member Non Aligned Movement.

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The 120-nation body is the second largest grouping next to the United Nations and strives to bring a power balance to the world.

ends intro

Like newly democratic South Africa back in 1998, countries hosting the Non Aligned Movement summit strive to leave their mark on the body.

This year’s host Venezuela says it will concentrate on fighting against colonialism, imperialism, racism and oppression.

Foreign ministers preparing for the leaders’ deliberations at the weekend are creating agreements for the promotion and defense of world peace which is one of the fundamental principles of the movement.

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Foreign affairs chief Maite Nkoana Mashabane says the South African government stands ready to assist the Tanzania government.

President Jacob Zuma’s extended official condolences to Tanzania for those who lost their lives in the 5,7 magnitude earthquake that struck close to the border with Uganda and Rwanda.

Briefing the media, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana Mashabane says South African rescue and recovery teams are encouraged to pitch in.

“They’ve done it before in Japan and other countries,” she said.

Kenya’s donating building material and beds to Tanzanians left homeless by the quake.

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Several people have died in the DRC protesting against any delay, arguing that its amounts to President Joseph Kabila clinging to power.

Foreign policy chief  Maite Nkoane Mshebane says the DRC is engaged  in an unprecedented political process.

Since the removal of Mobutu Sese Seko more than 20 years ago, the DRC has never had local or provincial government elections.

In registering new voters Congolese authorities say they’ve discovered about eight million people who’ve  have reached the voting age but are not on the voters’ roll.

There is also the inter-Congolese dialogue that all parties have agreed to.

“If that means the DRC government delaying elections, it would be supported by us. We cannot determine the date of another country’s elections,” said the South African foreign minister

South Africa played a key role in negotiating the inclusive political settlement in post Mobutu DRC.

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Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana Mashabane says replacing Ban Ki Moon, whose term as UN boss expires at the end of the year,  will overshadow proceedings at the world organisation’s General Assembly starting next week.

South Africa’s foreign affairs chief Maite Nkoana Mashabane will accompany President Jacob Zuma to the UN General Assembly world affairs debate in New York.

She says selection of the UN Secretary General has in the past been opaque.

South Africa and other countries and non governmental organisations are pushing for this to be a more open process with a greater role for the General Assembly.

This would effectively move it away from the control of the powerful permanent members of the Security Council.

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Finally, 12 years after its inception, Africa’s continental legislature provides the the delicious introduction that has had punsters slavering: Things are going from bad to wors at the PAP.

South Africans have been asking since 2004 what their government was thinking bringing the Pan African Parliament here.

The body is one of the nine organs of the African Union.

The Parliament is intended as a platform for people from all African states to be involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent.

In recent  years, the PA has played an advisory role to the African Union summit on a wide array of issues affecting the continent.

These include climate change and the Post-2015 developmental Agenda.

Euphemistic spin aside, the PAP is a toothless talk shop.

It has had moments of influence, such as when members observed elections and took an independent line on what they saw or when they spoke their minds about human rights excesses in Zimbabwe.

However they were quickly brought to heel by the AU summit that keeps it on a very tight financial leash.

Since nothing said in the chamber at their Midrand Headquarters results in any kind of action, the PAP is not regarded as a worthy of coverage by the media in its host country.

As one of the few reporters who keep an eye on events there, I am frequently the only journalist in the house.

This means advertised briefings are not held, and I am required to speak one-on-one with the president or other participants in a debate.

It happened again when MPs expressed their anger and fear following an attack on colleagues that left one them hospitalized with a bullet wound in her thigh.

They were engaged in a committee meeting that was not empowered to adopt any motion.

This has to wait until their next plenary meeting in October which is scheduled for the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh.

A number of MPs asked if their safety could be guaranteed there.

An Egyptian MP insisted that they would be in the safest place in the world.

The bulk of MPs in the debate were saying the PAP should relocate to a safer venue if the South African hosts could not guarantee their security.

They pointed out that South Africa’s agreement with the African Union to host the PAP expired in 2009.

They called for a new agreement to spell out the security measures South Africa  was prepared to offer.

The MPs were unhappy with the assurance from  South African Police Service General General Nkuna that they should get on with business because their security had become his preoccupation.

They believed they were due an unconditional apology from foreign affairs minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane for the spate of five attacks in recent months against MPs.

One participant went so far as to suggest the police were in cahoots with the criminals attacking MPs.

PAP president Roger Nkoda Ndang attempted to placate MPs with an assurance that President Jacob Zuma had promised him an appointment to discuss the security concerns.

South African officials are adamant that Pretoria wishes to continue hosting the PAP.

A plot of land has been identified in the capital on which to build a permanent headquarters.

Meanwhile, MPs we’re advised by a colleague not to change large sums of money when they landed at OR Tambo airport because this makes them targets for robbers who are active there.

ends

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