Minister of Works and Transport to attend SADC Meeting in Namibia

source: Republic of Botswana (17/5/09): TAUTONA TIMES no 14 of 2009
The Weekly Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity and Discipline"

C6) 13/05/09: Minister of Works and Transport to attend SADC Meeting in
Namibia

The Minister of Works and Transport Hon. Johnnie Swartz leaves for Swakopmund, Namibia on Thursday, 14th May 2009, to attend the meeting of Ministers responsible for Transport and Meteorology in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, which will be hosted by the Namibian Minister of Works and Transport Hon. Helmut Angula.

The one day meeting is to review and approve the implementation strategies of the SADC Protocol on Transport and Meteorology mainly policy harmonization, to discuss the development of the SADC Corridors including transport and trade facilitation interventions, inter-regional and continental cooperation as well as discussing the regional priorities in Transport and Meteorology sector for 2010/2011.

Articles 22 and 23 of the SADC Treaty which provides for Member States to conclude a Protocol to expand and deepen their co-operation in the areas of infrastructure and services call for determination to establish viable and sustainable transport, communications and meteorology systems.

The resultant SADC Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology article 3.5.1 chapter 3 has therefore called for Member States to establish institutional frameworks involving all transport modes to promote inter-and intra-modal co-operation between stakeholders and to support the development of regional development corridors facilitating unimpeded access and travel between the territories of the Member States.

Following the decision of the SADC Council of Ministers to abolish the Integrated Committee of Ministers (ICM), the SADC Sectoral Committees of Ministers were formed. The observation was that Sectoral Ministers are better placed to align national programmes, development plans and budgetary provisions with regional and continental programmes.

Further, the decision to come up with Sectoral Committees of Ministers was based on the reason that the role of Sector Ministers is indispensable if the regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan Programmes are to be effectively owned and implemented.


Minister Swartz delegation, which comprises the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works and Transport Mr. Carter Morupisi, returns home on Saturday, 17th May 2009.