Former President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma, with President Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Mugabe visited Namibia for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in August 2009.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Zimbabwe Herald
PRESIDENT Mugabe says Southern Africa should increase its electricity generation capacity to boost regional economic development.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Caprivi Link Interconnector in Katima Mulilo, Namibia, yesterday, the President said energy is critical to Southern Africa’s success.
He said inadequate electricity supplies were an impediment to the region’s economic grow-th, adding that the region’s power deficit was a result of under-investment in electricity generation facilities.
Present at yesterday’s ceremony were Presidents Hifikepunye Pohamba (Namibia), Rupiah Banda (Zambia) and Seretse Khama Ian Khama (Botswana).
"I need not underscore the fact that energy is one of the pillars upon which rests the success of all our economic development plans within Sadc and whether as individual countries or the region — this remains important," he said.
"Without ensuring that our industries, mines, farms and households have adequate supplies of power, our endeavours to develop our econo-mies will be severely curtailed and even come to naught."
The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, said electricity shortages burdened industry with the responsibility of generating power.
He said this in turn affected industry’s competitiveness internationally and resulted in it being subdued by cheaper imports.
He also implored Southern Africa to take advantage of its vast natural resources to boost energy supplies.
"It goes without saying that the shortages we face are a result of under-investment in power generation facilities," he said.
"The situation demands that we work with urgency to ensure that the power outages that have blighted our region are a thing of the past.
"As a region, we have abundant resources. We have natural gas, methane gas, coal, uranium, rivers full of water, wind and sunshine as well as some oil reserves.
"Yet outsiders are benefiting from the exploitation of these resources to the exclusion of our own economies. We should harness these resources for our benefit. I wish to emphasise that the resources should be exploited first and foremost to the shared best interests of our own people."
The President added that partnerships between regional states would help improve individual countries’ electricity supplies.
He cited the joint venture between Zimba-bwe and Namibia that had seen the rehabilitation of electricity generation units at Hwange Power Station as a viable partnership.
He said the construction of the proposed interconnector linking Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia under a project known as Zizabona should be expedited.
"We should move with speed on the construction of the Zizabona interconnector in order to further integrate regional power supplies and facilitate the smooth transmission of power," he said.
"The construction of the Zizabona will provide an alternative movement of power from the north to the south thereby decongesting the central corridor in Zimbabwe."
He added: "The completion of the (Caprivi Link) interconnector is in itself an excellent example of regional co-operation in an effort to build up the capacity to meet our respective countries’ electricity needs given that our sub-region, as with all, has been hit by energy deficiencies since 2007.
"This project is thus a serious statement of our intention to further integrate the region’s power needs. This interconnector is a credit not only to Namibia but also to the entire region."
In his keynote address, President Pohamba urged regional leaders to continue supporting power generation initiatives in Southern Africa.
He said the construction of the Caprivi Link Interconnector symbolised the importance Sadc governments attached to sustainable power generation as a catalyst to economic development.
"I wish to emphasise that optimal utilisation of this transmission line, which connects the Zambian and Namibian electricity networks will be further enhanced by the completion of the envisaged Zizabona interconnection that will link Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia," he said.
The Namibian leader reiterated President Mugabe’s call for the region to harness natural resources.
"Southern Africa is endowed with diverse natural resources.
"The time has come for us to join hands to harness renewable resources such as solar energy and water resources for the betterment of the living standards of our people," he said.
"Yes, some of these projects will take time to realise, but there is nothing preventing us from sharing resources by signing Power Purchase and Wheeling Agreements with neighbouring countries and optimise the utilisation of the vast energy resources in the region."
Speaking at the same occasion, President Banda said the construction of the Caprivi Link Interconnector was part of moves towards regional integration.
He said energy-sector partnerships among Sadc members would help increase regional power supplies. President Khama said the project was a response to Southern Africa’s desire for improved standards of living.
He said it would also help reduce power cuts, which often result in economic losses.
"The project shows that our family (Southern Africa) is getting closer and closer," he said. The Caprivi Link Interconnector is a 300-megawatt high-voltage power transmission line linking Namibia to the Zambian electricity grid.
Ultimately, the line also connects Namibia to the electricity networks of Zimbabwe, DRC, Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa.
Among other benefits, the link will help ensure reliable power transfer between east and western members of the Southern African Power Pool. It will also ensure consistent supplies to the Caprivi Region, which is feeding off the Namibian network.
President Mugabe returned home yesterday evening. Energy and Power Development Minister Mr Elton Mangoma and his Foreign Affairs counterpart, Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, were part of the President’s delegation.
Media, Information and Publicity Minister Cde Webster Shamu; Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda, Foreign Affairs Secretary Cde Joey Bimha, senior Government officials and service chiefs were among those who welcomed Cde Mugabe at the Harare International Airport.
Zim commits to safety, stability of Sadc
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE is committed to Sadc military integration as a key to promoting and maintaining peace and stability, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
Minister Mnangagwa was addressing 60 officers from Sadc countries who graduated from the Zimbabwe Staff College yesterday after completing the Junior Staff Course.
The students were drawn from Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Namibia.
"The continued participation of students from the Sadc region is ample evidence of our country’s commitment towards regional military integration," Minister Mnangagwa said.
Minister Mnangagwa said his ministry would continue to advocate inclusion of female students in training courses to eliminate gender imbalances in regional defence forces.
He thanked China for supporting the training centre, a relationship he said epitomised the traditionally strong ties between Harare and Beijing.
The graduates completed a compressed and demanding course whose main aim is to sharpen their knowledge and skills in staff procedures in both peace and war time.
Another course is to develop versatile and proficient officers in the key areas of tactics, leadership and training, and peace support operations.
The course ran for 21 weeks.
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