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24 th SOUTHERN AFRICAN RAILWAYS ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETING
17 MAY 2007
Southern African Railways Association (SARA) is a regional railways organisation formed in April 1996 following recognition by Southern African Development Community (SADC) railway administrations of the need to establish a strong railways lobby group to pursue advocacy for fair surface transport competition. SARA is one of the regional organisations contemplated in Article 13.13 of the SADC Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology that was subsequently developed and ratified member states in 1998. SARA is SADC's implementing agent for all regional railway projects. The organisation is a member of the Union of African Railways (UAR) which is the African Union (AU)'s implementing organ for continental railway projects. SARA turned 10 years in April last year and be shortly publishing a 10 th Anniversary Brochure to mark this significant milestone in its history.
The main objectives of SARA as an association are to;
- Promote the railway industry in the SADC to enable it to provide safe, integrated, cost effective and predictable one stop seamless service.
- Lobby and influence transport policy in favour of railways by advocating for fair surface transport policies in the region.
- Exploit interconnectivity of member's railway networks and achieve cross border operability
- Promote regional and continental rail network connectivity where rail links do not exist and strengthen existing interconnections through targeted activities and funding.
- Promote alliances for the exchange of technical information, strategies, skills development and training, among others.
- Develop, enhance, and harmonise policies, governance and business processes.
- Establish SARA as a catalyst for regional, continental and global objectives.
- Promote alliances with other modes of transport where the opportunities exist in order to achieve synergy and provide total logistical solutions.
- Promote trade, movement of goods and passengers, economic growth in the region and Africa as a whole.
- To increase rail market share.
- Solicit for funding for projects from donor agencies.
2. Mission of SARA
SARA's Mission is to facilitate the creation of an environment where the railway industry is a top performer in the transport sector and make rail the mode of choice. This will be achieved through bringing about fair competition, developing an equitable market driven surface transport (road and rail) industry, improved efficiency and effectiveness in the regional railways operations and to champion the cause of the regional railways.
The mission of SARA has been reviewed to the following:
3. Purpose of Board Meeting
SARA Board meetings are held twice per year to discuss issues of mutual interest to the railways aimed at improving the performance of railways and their economic contribution to the SADC region. The Board approves policy issues for implementation by SARA members through the coordination effort of the SARA Secretariat.
This particular meeting is to consider proposals to:
• Consider and approve the revised SARA Constitution to align it with the new SARA Strategy that was developed in 2004 and the changing business environment. The revised Constitution will improve the focus, accountability and efficiency of the organisation.
• To consider and approve the SARA Regional Strategic Plan for the period from 2007 to 2011.
• To consider a number of position papers aimed at improving performance of the organisation.
• To consider the SARA audited accounts for 2006.
• To review the organisation's financial performance for the first quarter of 2007.
• To review railway operational issues pertaining to railway transport corridors.
• To consider and approve the SARA HIV/AIDS Policy framework.
• To review progress on railway projects that were approved at the last Board meeting held in Lusaka the 12 th of October 2006
• To consider and approve work programmes for the SARA Committees covering the period from May 2007 to April 2008.
• To consider the update on the progress made on advocacy and lobbying. • Consider issues relating to integration with the Union of African Railways (Union of African Railways) and International Union of Railways (UIC). • Discuss and finalise modalities for producing the SARA 10 th Anniversary Brochure. • Considering applications by and admitting new members 4. Membership of SARA At its formation in 1996 SARA comprised of predominantly SADC railway organisations only. However with passage of time SARA has managed to change its membership structure to take into account business realities on the ground and reflect changes in the business environment. The new membership drive has seen the opening up of the association to other non-railway organisations who are stakeholders in the railways business namely customers, suppliers and other organisations with special interest in railways in order to build synergies that would improve the performance of the Railways and the transport sector in general. At today's meeting, SARA is considering membership from a regulator, the Railway Safety Regulator of South Africa (RSR) who are being represented here in an observer capacity. This diversity in membership will benefit the railways especially with regards to customer service delivery, supplier relationships and safety management. 5. Congo Brazzaville Declaration The Brazzaville Declaration that was an outcome of the conference of African Union (AU) Ministers responsible for Railway Transport held in April 2006 in Brazzaville , Congo was and is still is a welcome development for SARA as it marked the beginning of a new era for the rebirth of the railways. Through this Declaration the ministers resolved to renew their commitment to invest in railway infrastructure development following the decision by the Heads of States to include the provision of transport infrastructure as a key area for the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This development has a positive impact on the Advocacy Agenda of SARA. The individual Railways can take advantage of this Ministerial Declaration to consistently lobby and remind their government of their obligation in this regard. 6. Areas requiring assistance from Governments i). Investment in infrastructure. ii). Removal of tariff controls. iii). Simplification/streamlining of Customs procedures and formalities. iv). Levelling of the Playing field between road and rail. v). Waiver on fuel levies. vi). Duty exemption/concessions on imported railway equipment and materials for recapitalisation purposes.
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