Windhoek
“We need to explore innovative new approaches, based on science, on how to better prepare for the effects of climate change and its impact on the globe. Therefore, in our striving for economic development and growth, it is imperative for us to strike a good balance between economic growth, on the one hand, and sustainable development on the other,” said the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Forestry John Mutorwa on Monday.
He was speaking at a board meeting of the Southern African Science Service Centre For Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) in Windhoek.
Mutorwa stressed that when designing and planning programmes and projects, “we need to constantly ask ourselves the following question: How do we use the natural resources at our disposal, more efficiently, without increasing the risk of natural disasters?”
Almost three years ago, government ministers from Angola, Botswana, Germany, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia signed the joint declaration to implement SASSCAL.
Namibia, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry has since then made a budgetary provision of N$22 million for the earthworks and physical preparation of the construction site of the SASSCAL regional headquarters.
This is in addition to the availing of land and the cost paid to the architect, who has prepared the drawings and building plans.
The signing was to confirm their cooperation and strengthen the regional scientific capacity in agriculture, biodiversity, climate, forestry and water, and to commit to establish jointly SASSCAL and maintain it as a strong regional cooperation initiative, as well as to affirm political and financial commitment of African partners to share responsibility to promote, establish and sustain the joint initiative.
Mutorwa said that as a member and as a host country of the SASSCAL regional secretariat head office, Namibia notes with satisfaction that since its establishment, SASSCAL has successfully accomplished many activities and indeed practically implemented many of its planned programmes and projects.
Admittedly, many important planned activities are still to be implemented, such as the actual commencement of the practical construction of the SASSCAL regional head office, on the GRN donated land in Windhoek.
“In this regard, Namibia reiterates its commitment and readiness to avail its humble financial contributions, towards the actual construction of the said SASSCAL regional head office,” he noted.
“Germany’s valuable financial contributions to SASSCAL is and shall remain deeply appreciated by the member states of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia.
“Mindful of the fact that the Federal Republic of Germany’s funding will start to reduce from 2017 onwards, by 25 percent per annum, it is the understanding that the five member states will have to continue to make financial allocations, on an equal basis, to cover the said amount; ideally on the basis of the already adopted SASSCAL funding formula.
“In the end, the SASSCAL building must be architecturally attractive, and of quality for those who are going to work in that facility (building) to provide effective and professionally efficient public services for the six member states, SADC, Africa and the world, at large,” Mutorwa said.