Address by His Excelency Mr Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa and Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to the Harare Agricultural Society Show, Harare, Zimbabwe, August 28 2009

Your Excellency, Mr Robert Mugabe, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe,
Your Excellency, Vice President J Mujuru,
Your Excellency, Mr M Tsvangirai, Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe,
Honourable Deputy Prime Ministers Prof A Mutambara and Mrs T Khupe,
Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Honourable Members of Parliament,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are pleased to have been able to visit Zimbabwe within just three months of a new administration in South Africa.

I accepted the invitation from His Excellency, President Mugabe to open this agricultural show because agriculture is the mainstay of the economy of Zimbabwe.

This sector made this country the food basket of the region. If we speak of, and work towards the economic recovery of Zimbabwe, agriculture is one of the key sectors we must look at very seriously.

It is therefore important for us to be part of this occasion, both as South Africa and as current chairperson of the Southern African Development Community, (SADC).

Ladies and gentlemen, we must also underline that agriculture is the backbone of the economy of the SADC region as a whole, which is why it is so important to us all.

About 80% of the people in the region depend on agriculture for income and employment.

The performance of agriculture has a strong influence on food security, economic growth and stability of the SADC region.

We must focus on agriculture as well because inadequate food security and poor nutrition impact negatively on the quality of life of our people.

The food security situation in Southern Africa had shown an overall improvement in 2009 compared to 2008.

However, there is much progress that must still be made with regard to crop production to ensure that there are better harvests in the new planting season.

The SADC region is still a net importer of milk and meat, although there has been a significant increase in the production of animal products in 2008 compared to 2007.

Similarly, the region has recorded a steady increase in fish production in recent years.

SADC should reaffirm its commitment to the implementation of the Dar-es-Salaam Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security.

The implementation of this Declaration in the past 5 years has yielded positive results and has potential to contribute to improving the regional food security situation and nutrition at household level.

Considering the annual variations in food production in the region due to changing weather patterns, there is a need to review the work done on the establishment of a Regional Food Reserve Facility.

This would provide SADC with a mechanism for preventing and preparing for adverse impacts and shocks to food security.

We therefore call upon the region to expedite the finalisation of the feasibility phase of this initiative.

We need to recognise the threat posed by climate change on agriculture and food security in the region. Climate change affects the three pillars of food security, namely food availability, food access and food safety and nutrition.

Its impact on temperature and increased frequency of drought and floods are detrimental to the development of the agricultural sector.

To this end, we recognise the important role of research in adaptation to climate change, and the initiatives taken by the SADC region in dealing with climate change to develop strategies for the region for adaptation to the phenomenon.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

We deemed it important to use the opportunity provided by the agricultural show, to engage with brothers and sisters the signatories of the Global Political Agreement.

The challenge we face is to ensure that Zimbabwe's recovery is completed in the shortest space of time.

The African Union, SADC and South Africa are guarantors of the implementation of the Agreement. As the main mediator, South Africa takes a keen interest in ensuring that the process moves forward.

There have been positive developments in Zimbabwe since the January 2009 SADC Extraordinary Summit.

The Inclusive Government is functioning and the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee is also progressing well.

We are also encouraged by the consensus reached by the Inclusive Government parties on the need for national healing and reconciliation.

We support you on this route. We went through it in South Africa. It is a long, arduous but very necessary process for nation building and social cohesion.

We are also pleased that the Constitution making process is progressing well and that it has civil society participation to a large extent.

On the economic front, the situation is improving. Your creative multi-currency system has eliminated hyperinflation and brought consumer goods back into shops.

We welcome the fact that a number of countries and organisations have responded positively and are extending credit lines to Zimbabwe, thus facilitating import-export transactions.

We recognise the role of the Minister of Finance, the Honourable Mr Tendai Biti, in securing the achievements reached so far.

Clearly, the Inclusive Government's Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme has all the hallmarks of success, especially if the implementation of the Global Political Agreement moves with the necessary speed and progress.

The achievement of an effective recovery is also dependent on the removal of sanctions and other measures that hold back economic development.

We are aware that some economic development partners and donor countries have put some benchmarks to be met before they can extend financial assistance, and currently only offer humanitarian assistance.

Since these relate to the implementation of the Global Political Agreement, to which signatories remain fully committed, meeting these benchmarks should be a priority in the work of the Inclusive Government.

We appeal to the international community to remove any remaining hindrances to Zimbabwe's recovery including sanctions.

At the same time, we also emphasise that the parties in Zimbabwe should work together to remove any remaining obstacles to the implementation of the agreement.

I met with the signatories of the agreement last night and also this morning, in my capacity as SADC chairperson and guarantor.

We discussed the critical issues relating to the implementation. The parties are in agreement on the need to speed up implementation and to find solutions to the current points of disagreement.

The important factor is that there is commitment amongst all parties, which will make the movement forward possible.

We will go to the SADC Summit on 7-8 September in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The region stands united behind the people of Zimbabwe, and all seek solutions.

South Africa has always stood with Zimbabwe in the search for a solution to the challenges facing the country.

We have done so because of our shared history of struggle and neighbourhood, which is strengthened by bonds of culture, heritage and kinship.

We have recognised that the peoples of this region share a common destiny.

Our fortunes are intertwined, and for us, the Zimbabwean recovery will have practical benefits socially and economically.

Your Excellency dear brother, President Mugabe, Excellency Vice-President, the Honourable Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister,

Given the importance of agriculture to the economy of Zimbabwe, it is understandable that the Inclusive Government intends to invest heavily in this sector.

In the medium to long term, it will be critical that the country guarantees food security and self reliance.

The Global Political Agreement seeks to ensure the restoration of full productivity on all agricultural land in the interest of all the people of Zimbabwe.

This show provides an opportunity to showcase what is possible and what is available in Zimbabwean agriculture.

In December 2008, SADC launched an urgent international campaign to mobilise financial and material resources for the people of Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Humanitarian and Development Assistance Framework was established, which has been successful in providing assistance to farmers.

This will have a positive impact to both food security in the country and the income derived by the farmers who participate in the programme.

Your Excellency, Mr President, I am pleased to note that our two countries have finalised the Memorandum of Understanding concerning cooperation in the field of agriculture.

This is amongst a few being processed as part of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Joint Permanent Commission.

In the last meeting of the Commission in March this year, our two countries exchanged views on measures to strengthen economic cooperation, focusing on measures that will support economic recovery.

The proposed agricultural MOU will enable the two countries to share agricultural development experiences, capacity building and skills development programmes amongst other areas of cooperation.

As the South African government we have urged our private sector to participate in the economic recovery of Zimbabwe. Presently, a number of South African companies continue to operate principally in the mining, tourism, agriculture, baking and retail sectors.

Your Excellencies, Ladies and gentlemen,

Let me reiterate that South Africa appreciates the humanitarian assistance which the donor countries continue to provide to Zimbabwe, without which the socio-economic situation in the country would be much worse.

We have noted the benchmarks and conditions put forward by donors on their re-engagement in Zimbabwe.

However, as South Africa we encourage donors to provide the development aid that is dearly needed to ensure that the Inclusive Government is able to discharge its responsibilities of turning around the political -and socio-economic development situation in Zimbabwe.

Of course, the Inclusive Government also has a responsibility to fully implement the Global Political Agreement and thus create confidence in the process.

We also appreciate the recent international tour conducted by Honourable Prime Minister Tsvangirai.

It should have served to convince the international community regarding the commitment of all parties to implement the agreement.

Your Excellency Mr President, Excellency Vice-President,

Prime Minister,
Deputy Prime Ministers,

Our two countries and peoples are bound together by history.

We continue to recall and celebrate the critical incidents in our history which will forever bind us for generations to come.

This nation never ceased to provide material and political support to us during the struggle against apartheid.

Many South African freedom fighters lie buried on Zimbabwean soil, while many Zimbabweans also lost their lives in the struggle for a free South Africa.

This is a permanent reminder of the bonds between our two countries.

We should continue to work together towards finding a lasting solution to the challenges faced by this nation, assisted by the region and the continent.

Ladies and gentlemen, Africa cannot only be defined by geography. We should also come together around a set of values that define our humanity.

For this reason the promotion of democracy, the respect for human rights and the improvement of governance are vital for our success as a continent.

May I, Your Excellency, on my behalf, and on behalf of my entire delegation, express my sincere gratitude to the Zimbabwean government and people for the warm welcome we have received.

It is my pleasure to declare the 99th session of the Harare Agricultural Society Show open.

I thank you.

Source: The Presidency

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