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Zuma calls for coordinated SADC response to global economic crisis

Zuma calls for coordinated SADC response to global economic crisis
Written by Maluba Jere
Monday, August 17, 2009 2:11:06 AM

SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma has said there is need for Southern African Development Community (SADC) members to coordinate their responses to the global economic downturn as well as the food crisis.

In his message to mark the 29th anniversary of the founding of the SADC day which falls today, President Zuma, who is also SADC chairman, said member states needed to work more closely, plan jointly and share whatever resources were available.

He noted that the region faced significant challenges and that everyone needed to participate in the effort to overcome them.

“We need to work together to ensure that our peoples have access to the basic necessities of life such as food, shelter, water and sanitation, clothing, quality health services and education,” President Zuma said.

He also said globalisation and the advent of new technologies compelled the regional body members to work together.

President Zuma noted that there was a risk of being overtaken by events if the members did not respond to the realities of life in the 21st century.

“We must work together on various issues including on food security, trade, political stability and health. No country can cut itself off from its neighbours,” President Zuma said. “When diseases cross borders or criminals cross borders, we need to find health and security solutions that cross borders too.”

President Zuma further urged leaders to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship among people.

He further said there was need to understand that the responsibility of creating jobs could not be left to big businesses and government alone.

“We have a responsibility to create an environment that is conducive for the development of small enterprises,” he said. “As your elected representatives, we have committed ourselves to the alleviation of poverty with the ultimate aim of eradicating it. But it is equally important that citizens are willing and actively participate in the programmes that will bring about change.”

He noted that although the region still faced many challenges, the leaders were on track to build SADC into a dynamic and stable entity.

President Zuma added that SADC day was an important event as it urged leaders to forge stronger political and economic ties towards a brighter future for all.

And Foreign Affairs permanent secretary ambassador Tens Kapoma has said SADC, like many regions in Africa, faced a number of challenges that constrained the region’s developmental efforts.

Ambassador Kapoma said among the challenges that SADC faced were high poverty levels, lack of direct foreign investment, low industrial development and the HIV and AIDS pandemic, among others.

He noted that despite these challenges, the economic, social and political situation of the SADC region had continued to improve and that the future outlook was bright.

“However, more needs to be done on our part as well as on the part of our international cooperating partners in order to overcome the overreaching challenges to our development efforts if we are to significantly alleviate poverty, disease and hunger among our people as well as enhance economic development,” said Ambassador Kapoma.

Labels: GREAT DEPRESSION II, JACOB ZUMA, SADC

posted by MrK @ 1:12 AM