I WAS recently part of a delegation that toured Katima Mulilo border and the Katima Mulilo Bridge across the River Zambezi in commemoration of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) by Zambia and Namibia.
SADC Day falls annually on August 17 and involves a tour of selected projects that have improved the lives of people in any two affected member states.
This year, the two projects at Katima Mulilo were spotted as having greatly benefitted Zambia and Namibia in areas of trade as the movement of goods and people has greatly improved.
Our delegation comprised journalists, Ministry of Information staff led by Permanent Secretary Godfrey Malama and Government heads of department led by Western Province Permanent Secretary Mwangala Liomba.
The tour was designed for us to appreciate how projects achieved through interaction among SADC member states can benefit ordinary people.
These are the results that stem from the SADC Heads of State and Government meetings that are held annually in any of the 15-member states.
SADC is an important inter-governmental organisation that was founded at the Southern African Development co-ordination Conference (SADDC) in Lusaka on April 1, 1980, to promote equitable growth through integration.
The organisation later became the present day Southern Africa Development Community on August 17, 1992 with the affirmation by leaders to deepen the organisation’s agenda with a view to reduce poverty through the attainment of economic and non-economic development goals.
And it is through this agenda that member states have recorded significant growth through regional integration resulting in improved livelihood of the people.
The Katima Mulilo Bridge was commissioned on May 17, 2004 by former President’s Levy Mwanawasa and his Namibian counterpart Sam Nujoma in response to the challenges of mobility affecting traders between the two countries.
Ten years down the line, trade between Zambia and Namibia had increased by 200 percent, according to Namibian Ministry of Finance, deputy director for customs Wilbroad Poniso.
Mr Poniso named fish, minerals and beverages among the major imports and exports of the two countries.
This now has propelled Namibia to move towards approving the establishment of a one stop border service at the Katima Mulilo border post which separates the two countries.
The legislation would be tabled in the next session of Parliament and thereafter take effect as the final piece of the jigsaw as Zambia is ready to execute the plan on all fronts.
People at the lower level want to feel the benefits of integration among SADC member states and this is why it was pleasing to hear that the two Governments’ have been working hand in hand to uplift the living standards of their people.
Zambezi region governor Lawrence Sampofu said border requirements had been relaxed at least for a distance of 60 kilometers from Zambia into Namibia helping reduce impediments to smooth trade in the region.
Both countries only need to find ways of utilising the Zambezi River through activities such as irrigation farming which is a lucrative activity that could derive economic benefits from the waters.
Mr Malama called on the media in the region to highlight the achievements scored by respective member countries through regional integration.
SADC had initiated the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) to deepen the integration agenda of SADC with a view to reduce poverty through the attainment of economic and non-economic development goals.
As a fourth estate, the media needs to highlight both the achievements and challenges in meeting these milestones in order to sustain Governments’ commitment to attaining their well intended targets.
The media should lead the way in telling SADC’s success story and project our region positively to the outside world.
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