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Date
: 18/03/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Debate on NEPAD in NCOP
ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA TO THE DEBATE ON THE NEW
PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICA'S DEVELOPMENT IN THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF
PROVINCES, Parliament, Cape Town, 18 March 2003
Madame Chairperson,
Honourable Members and Delegates,
I am indeed very happy to join you in the National Council of
Provinces to discuss the critical challenges we face in the country
and continent.
Madame Chairperson, the NCOP is the perfect forum to discuss the
issue of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), as
it provides an opportunity to interact with government at all
levels.
The NEPAD programme is critical to the reconstruction and
development of the continent. It is therefore important that all
sectors of society become involved in it. It should develop into a
concrete programme of action, involving all of us at all levels and
sectors, both governmental and non-governmental.
It should be possible to develop an all-encompassing programme of
action because there is general consensus in the continent about
the value and importance of NEPAD.
Most importantly, NEPAD introduces a new style of social, economic
and political governance. It is designed to make leaders
accountable not only to the populations, but to their peers and
neighbours as well.
NEPAD's African Peer Review Mechanism is based on the reality that
our destinies are intertwined as African countries, and that we
need to be aware that our actions will influence our neighbours in
a particular way.
Madam Chairperson, the importance of parliamentary oversight as we
strive for the revival of the continent cannot be over-emphasised.
The establishment of the Pan-African Parliament, another key AU
structure, is therefore vital. We believe members of this House can
play a key role through this institution.
Our parliamentarians can seize the opportunity by forming linkages
with their colleagues in the continent and beyond, to market NEPAD
as well as monitor its implementation.
You would, through such parliament-to-parliament linkages,
transcend boundaries that governments may not be able to bridge,
and promote popular democratic practices throughout the
continent.
Madame Chairperson, given the many opportunities offered by the
establishment of the Pan-African Parliament, we are concerned that
thus far, only ten countries have ratified the Protocol. We
therefore, hope that AU member states that have not signed and
ratified the Protocol will do so in order to expedite the launch of
this important continental oversight body.
Colleagues, related to the implementation of NEPAD, are the
imperative of eradicating conflicts in some parts of the continent.
There is a clear correlation between peace and stability on the one
hand, and economic growth and sustainable development on the
other.
Driven by this goal of creating a better Africa, South Africa is
actively involved in conflict resolution in Burundi, the Democratic
Republic of Congo and other parts of the continent. Substantial
progress has been made in these endeavours already.
With regards to Burundi, we have secured three out of four
ceasefire agreements, signed by the armed movements and political
parties and the Transitional Government of Burundi. Work is
continuing to implement the ceasefire agreements and where
challenges arise, we are pleased that the various parties are
always open to discussions and to finding solutions.
We believe Burundi has been through the worst already, and that the
situation can only improve. Although challenges may arise, the
processes and structures exist to resolve these, both within
Burundi and externally. The eventual return to constitutional
legitimacy and democracy remains critical for Burundi and other
conflict-ridden sister countries. We hope the belligerent parties
realise the urgency with which this needs to happen.
The African Union continues efforts to ensure a return to peace and
stability in Sudan, Comoros, Somalia, Western Sahara and Cote
d'Ivoire.
To ensure lasting peace, there is a need for the establishment of
new political systems, which would take into account the diversity
within these societies. Diversity and difference should be viewed
as providing opportunities rather than as a threat to certain
political classes.
The opportunities exist for vibrant, viable democratic political
systems and institutions to arise in these sister countries. Also
critical is the creation of the necessary checks and
balances.
The establishment of inclusive democratic political systems would
permit the renewal of mandates, or the replacement of governments
should the electorate so decide, within the context of the
constitution.
It would eliminate the reason for armed rebellions and other
unconstitutional activity. In this context, Madam Chairperson, we
condemn the coup d tat in the Central African Republic over the
weekend, and we are sure that members of this House join us in
doing so.
I would like to invite the NCOP to find ways of assisting the
Barundi people in particular, and other peoples affected by strife
in general, in their search for lasting solutions.
Interaction and sharing of experiences with parliamentarians in
these countries would assist in spreading the message of peace, as
well as in promoting democracy and good governance throughout the
continent.
Madam Chairperson, NEPAD has all the right elements, which should
make it succeed in extricating the continent from the abyss of
underdevelopment, poverty and conflicts. It is for this reason that
we spare no effort in creating the right conditions for it to
succeed, whether locally or outside the continent.
It is this determination to succeed, among other things, which make
us concerned about the global security situation, in particular the
American-led campaign against Iraq.
It is our well-considered view, that a war in Iraq will aggravate
the misery and poverty in Africa and other parts of the developing
world. We believe it would reverse all our gains achieved through
the NEPAD initiative, as it has the potential to push Africa to the
backburner in the international arena.
We hope the United States and its allies can still find it possible
to avert war even at this eleventh hour, and allow the United
Nations to deal with this matter multilaterally.
Madam Chairperson, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to
interact with colleagues in this House. I hope there will be more
interaction on this topic in the NCOP as the year progresses.
It is an important matter that requires the collective wisdom of
the public representatives gathered here.
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