ECONOMY-SOUTHERN AFRICA: Energy Shortages a Pressing Concern

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Nasseem Ackbarally

GRAND BAIE, Mauritius, Aug 20 2004 (IPS) - The Southern African Development Community (SADC) this week voiced concern about energy shortfalls in the region.

According to SADC Executive Secretary Prega Ramsamy, there are indications that the supply of electricity in Southern Africa will dwindle in the next two years because of increased economic activity and population growth.

Energy shortages could become severe by 2007 if steps are not taken to increase production – something that might prove challenging if petrol prices continue to climb.

“We must take urgent steps under the auspices of the Southern African Power Pool and NEPAD (the New Partnership for Africa’s Development) to counteract this problem,” said Ramsamy.

He was speaking earlier this week at a two-day summit for SADC heads of state held in Grand Baie, Mauritius (the meeting ended Aug. 17). NEPAD is a programme aimed at spurring growth in Africa – this through attracting increased foreign investment by improving standards of governance.

Mauritian authorities have turned to the country’s key sugar industry in a bid to address the looming energy crisis.

For the past few years, Mauritius has been producing electricity from bagasse, a residue of sugar cane production, and charcoal. At present, about 30 percent of national energy needs is catered for by power plants built by the sugar industry.

Mauritius is also attempting to increase the use of solar and wind energy. In addition, it is researching ways of harnessing wave movements to generate power.

A final communique issued by SADC’s 13 member states in Mauritius noted that the region experienced 3.2 percent annual growth in 2002 and 2003.

However, growth of seven percent is required to make a real dent in the poverty that continues to beset Southern Africa, according to Ramsamy. A reliable power supply will an all-important factor in achieving this increase.

Delegates to the SADC meeting also discussed food security, noting that there had been a slight improvement in this regard over recent months.

The number of people in need of food aid has decreased from 6.5 million over the end of 2003 and the start of 2004, to an estimated 5.4 million for the 2004/2005 period. Cereal production in 2004 is expected to rise by 10 percent to 24.97 million metric tonnes.

However, Mauritian Prime Minister Paul Berenger said it was still important for SADC countries to uphold a pledge to allocate about 10 percent of their national budgets to food security and agricultural development. This commitment was made in May, at a SADC heads of state meeting held in the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam.

Even though cereal production has risen, Berenger believes the sector should be pushed to produce still more so that it can become an engine of growth in Southern Africa. (Berenger assumed the rotating presidency of SADC this week.)

The challenge, he said at the summit, would be to provide farmers with the seed, fertilizer and equipment needed to increase agricultural output. Roads and bridges would also have to be built and maintained in rural areas, to allow for efficient production.

Berenger noted that every SADC citizen should have access to food, housing, healthcare and proper sanitation. But, “This will only be possible with the creation of wealth and jobs, and a sector where we can succeed with that is agriculture.”

The Mauritian leader voiced support for the creation of a regional food reserve, a project that also came under discussion previously at the Dar es Salaam meeting. “Our region is subject to drought, flooding and cyclones, which all affect food production,” he said. “More than ever, the region should prepare itself to face such crises.”

This week, SADC reaffirmed its opposition to unconstitutional changes of government within the region – this in response to an attempted coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Jun. 10.

In addition, leaders at the Mauritius summit agreed on a set of guidelines which are aimed at ensuring fair elections in the region. Amongst other things, the rules oblige member states to ensure press freedom, establish impartial electoral institutions and allow opposition parties to campaign freely

While a number of SADC countries are scheduled to hold elections in the coming months, the upcoming parliamentary poll in Zimbabwe – set for next March – has been a source of particular interest. Two previous elections held in the country have been marred by widespread violence and alleged voting irregularities.

Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa, the outgoing head of SADC, insisted that the electoral guidelines were not directed at any particular country in the grouping.

“Our effort to agree on such principles and guidelines is the culmination of introspection and self-assertion, to think about ourselves and to determine what is appropriate for us and what isn’t, what works and what doesn’t,” he noted.

“We are tired of being lectured on democracy by the very countries which, under colonialism, either directly denied us the rights of free citizens, or were indifferent to our suffering and yearnings to break free and be democratic,” Mkapa added.

Certain observers complain that there are not enough mechanisms to enforce the new polling rules. However, South African President Thabo Mbeki has warned that those who flout the guidelines may find themselves expelled from SADC.

Prior to the summit, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe proposed certain reforms to his country’s electoral laws, a move that was welcomed in Mauritius.

In addition, Berenger said he expected the promulgation of a new constitution in Swaziland. This country’s existing constitution was suspended by the late King Sobhuza the Second in 1973. Multi-party politics are also banned in Swaziland.