BY DELISA THWALA
EZULWINI– Senators from Africa and the Arab World are gathered to find solutions to the successive economic crises resulting from COVID-19, the Russia/Ukraine conflict and climate change impacts.
They are gathered at Royal Swazi Spa for day two of the 10th Retreat of the Association of Senates Shoora and equivalent Council of Africa and Arab World (ASSECAA).
Today countries like Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Abu Dhabi and Morocco shared how they were impacted by climate change and other economic mishaps.
During this retreat, about 150 delegates from 17 countries discussed ideas on influencing policies in stimulating a green economy for sustainable development in the two regions. Eight Arab and 14 African countries, including Eswatini, are ASSECAA member States.
The global challenges have resulted in escalating food prices which have been the highest since 2008, and increased energy prices, the highest since the 1973 oil crisis.
In addition, climate change continues to threaten the global economy and the lives of many people, especially the poor.
Senate President to the Parliament of Eswatini, Pastor Lindiwe Dlamini, welcomed her counterparts for day two from the two regions and said ASSECCA has become a crucial platform for dialogue and socio-economic and political cooperation between Africa and the Arab World.
“Indeed, it has evolved into a formidable crucible for ideas and thinking that inspire Africa and the Arab World to harness their potential for the benefit of our people despite challenges emanating from the prevailing world economic order,” said Dlamini.
The outcomes of the deliberations include establishing relations that will explore means of enhancing parliamentary Afro-Arab cooperation in line with a strategic, participatory, integrated and developmental perspective.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported this conference by providing the technical expertise that assessed the impact of the global crises on the two regions and helped explore the commission development strategies for moving forward to sustainable economic growth and possibilities of transitioning to green economies.
This is aligned with the UNDP offer to Eswatini under Sustainable Economic Inclusive Growth and Efficient and Participatory Governance, underpinned by the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework.
Meanwhile, when speaking of Climate change, Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini also said the Russia-Ukraine war threatens global peace and urged all countries to encourage the two states to resolve their differences peacefully.
“Our sub-region was negatively impacted by torrential rainfall events which damaged our infrastructure, among other things, causing further economic challenges. Health systems were also negatively impacted,” said Dlamini.
He remained hopeful that the Russia/Ukraine war would end and noted that the COVID-19 pandemic was ending. However, he observed that climate change was a long-term challenge, as pointed out in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.
