Namibia: Namibia Misses Out on NEPAD Instrument
The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) says it is regrettable that Namibia has so far missed out on the key aspects relating to the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) of the African Union (AU). Namibia has not yet acceded to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) nor was it represented in any capacity at the First Meeting of States Parties to the APRM held in the Rwandese capital, Kigali, on February 13-14 2004.
February 17 2004
PRESS RELEASE NAMIBIA MISSES OUT ON AFRICA’S DEMOCRACY INSTRUMENT
NSHR has found it regrettable that Namibia has so far missed out on the key aspects relating to the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) of the African Union (AU). Namibia has not yet acceded to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) nor was it represented in any capacity at the First Meeting of States Parties to the APRM held in the Rwandese capital, Kigali, on February 13-14 2004. Speaking from the NEPAD Secretariat in Johannesburg today APRM Support Officer Mufor Atanga confirmed that Namibia is neither a State Party to the APRM nor did it attend the Kigali meeting.
The APRM is aimed at promoting good political governance, respect for human rights and sustainable human development as well as prosperity on the African continent.
“The fact that Namibia is not among the 16 African States that have ratified or acceded to the APRM is no surprise to us. If indicators, such as love for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on the part of our political leaders, were taken as a pointer, then one can clearly understand the rationale behind Namibia’s not being among the ratifying States. As the say goes, ‘show me your friends and I tell you who you are’. Also, Namibia’s failure to embrace NEPAD deals a further lethal blow to a phony image that the country is a model for democracy and respect for human rights on the continent”, said NSHR Executive Director Phil ya Nangoloh.
Altogether 9 African Heads of State and Government meeting in Kigali have adopted a code of conduct containing rules and procedures on the implementation of the APRM. The APRM will now be applicable only to the 16 States of the 53 AU Member States that have ratified the Kigali code of conduct.
Ratifying the APRM means that the ratifying State agrees to its shortcomings on good economic and political governance, respect for human rights henceforth being assessed by other ratifying nations. According to the APRM code of conduct, African leaders can decide to take "appropriate measures" such as suspending a rogue state from NEPAD if its actions undermined the reputation of the re-born continent. Nonetheless, in real terms the APRM lacks clear toothy provisions to punish offenders.
The AU Member States that have ratified the APRM are Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda.
For additional comment, please call P. ya Nangoloh at Tel: +264 61 236
183 or +264 61 253 447 (during office hours) and Mobile: +264 811 299
886