SADC conference on poverty a success: Pohamba

from the Namibian

PRESIDENT Hifikepunye Pohamba described the just-ended Southern African Development Community (SADC) International Conference on Poverty and Development (ICPD) as a success, saying that a common concern on poverty was raised while the high cost of food in the region was thoroughly discussed.

The three-day conference took place in Mauritius and was attended by most of the SADC heads of state and government, as well as their partners from the European Union, the Norwegian government and Commonwealth organisations.

"There is a big common concern on the issues of poverty and high prices of food in the region in particular and the world in general," Pohamba told Nampa upon his arrival at Eros Airport from Mauritius on Monday.

He said it was a very impressive coming-together to discuss climate change, the food problem and poverty alleviation in the region.

"We will not have development in the region unless we reduce poverty," said the Namibian Head of State, adding that they tried to find ways to reduce poverty and solve the problem of high food prices in the region.

Namibia is just one of many African countries feeling the impact of rising global commodity prices.

The SADC International Conference on Poverty and Development (ICPD) originated from the first Bill Clinton Global Initiative meeting in 2005.

The 2006 SADC Summit in Lesotho endorsed the proposal of Mauritius to hold the SADC ICPD, whose main objectives were to discuss the regional dimensions of poverty in the SADC region and their inter-linkages with national poverty reduction strategies, and forge consensus on the key elements.

According to the United Nations (UN) Economic Commission for Africa, rising food and energy prices could hurt Africa's growth in the 21st century.

The UN Economic Commission also fears that the rapid escalation in food and energy prices, if not managed properly, could pose significant threats to growth and employment, good governance, peace and security.

Bank of Namibia (BON) Governor Tom Alweendo recently said inflation had increased by 1,6 per cent since 2006, due to escalating food prices and an increase in international oil prices.

He said the average inflation rose to 6,7 per cent last year from 5,1 per cent in 2006.

Globally, the world is on track to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, but sub-Saharan Africa is still lagging behind.

Forty per cent of the population on the continent lives on less than one dollar per day.