WINDHOEK – Key functions of the newly established Bi-National Commission between South Africa and Namibia would be the practical implementation of the 52 agreements and memoranda of understanding the two countries have already inked and shook hands on.
At 52 accords, Namibia and South Africa hold the record for the largest number of agreements and memoranda of understanding signed between the two countries than with any other SADC country, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane confirmed yesterday at the inaugural session of the commission in Windhoek.
“South Africa and Namibia should work harder and more in the implementation of these agreements,” said Nkoana-Mashabane.
The overall agenda of the commission will deal with development, regional integration, poverty alleviation, women and youth empowerment, employment creation, gender equality and girl child welfare in the two nations.
Yesterday the Namibian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Netumbo Nandi-Ndwaitwah, said there is a need to grow both countries’ economies towards addressing the problems of unemployment and poverty facing the two peoples. “Alcohol abuse by young people is another challenge that needs attention from all of us, as it is a threat to the basic fibre of our society. Also the issue of women underrepresentation in decision-making is topical. At the same time, the challenges facing young girls, including rape, baby dumping, discrimination at the workplace, teenage pregnancies, and dropping out of school are issues close to my heart and we need to stand up and fight this evil to assure a future for the girl child,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said. The commission is to be launched today by President Hifikepunye Pohamba and South African President Jacob Zuma.
Nkoana-Mashabane said the new forum seeks to further enhance existing cordial relations to a new level of strategic cooperation. “As opposed to meeting bi-annually, the forum will now meet yearly to address the pressing issues that affect the people of our two countries to enable efficient coordination and implementation of bilateral agreements and commitment between both governments, and also to identify areas of convergence in their engagements at both regional and international levels,” said Nkoana-Mashabane.
The launch of the commission is regarded as a milestone in diplomatic relations between the two countries as the commission transforms the existing Heads of State Economic Bilateral Forum (HOSEB) into a fully-fledged B-National Commission, thus making Namibia one of the few countries along with South Africa that have such an arrangement.
Nandi-Ndaitwah said there is a need to draw inspiration in the knowledge that both countries have registered commendable achievements in some of their joint projects while in others “we can safely say that there is work in progress, and scope for improvement.”
“There may be challenges that lie ahead which I believe cannot be insurmountable. Let us take this opportunity to reflect earnestly and assess where we currently stand in our bilateral projects and what we need to do to improve and prioritise areas that will bear immediate and long term results,” she said.
By Albertina Nakale