RELAUNCH OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN RAILWAYS ASSOCIATION - GABORONE , BOTSWANA

5 TH OCTOBER 2007

The 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 whose constitution is provided for in Article 13.13 of the SADC Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology. SARA is SADC's implementing agent for coordination and facilitation of all regional railway projects and programmes. The organisation is currently an Associate Member of the Union of African Railways (UAR), which is the African Union (AU)'s implementing organ for continental railway projects.

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 opportunities exist for synergy and provision of 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.

3. Purpose of the Re-launch

SARA is being re-launched in Gaborone in the presence of SADC Ministers responsible for transport. Also in attendance are SARA Board members (Chief Executives of railways in SADC), Executive Committee members of SARA and other invited guests. The keynote speech will be given by the Honourable Minister of Works and Transport of the Republic of Botswana Ms Lesego Motsumi. The gathering will also be addressed by the Executive Secretary of SADC Dr. Salamao.

The re-launch has been necessitated by a number of changes that have taken place since the formation of SARA in 1996 and increasing demand for railways to perform. These changes that are due to both internal and external factors include changes to the business environment, new SARA objectives and strategy, changes to membership composition, the Brazzaville Declaration of 2006 and affiliation to the Union of African Railways (UAR) and the International Union of Railways (UIC).

3.1 SARA Membership

When SARA was formed in 1996 its membership was mainly public sector SADC railway organizations. This set up has transformed over the years and now the association has private sector railways and other non-railway organizations who are stakeholders in the railway business viz; customers, suppliers and one railway safety regulator. This transformation has been necessitated by the need to adapt the organisation to business realities on the ground and reflect changes in the business environment with the ultimate objective of improving the performance of the Railways and the transport sector in general. This diversity in membership will benefit the railways especially with regards to customer service delivery, supplier relationships and safety management.

3.2. 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 reconstruction of the railways that have suffered from lack of investment over the years. 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. A number of key issues requiring redress are identified in this Declaration and these are;

•  Missing railway links.

•  Development of a framework for private sector participation in railways.

•  Continental projects that promote integration and the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGS).

•  Institutional capacity building for project management.

•  Funding commitment for railways

•  Clarity on the role of the State.

Individual Railways can take advantage of this Ministerial Declaration to consistently lobby and remind their governments of their obligation in this regard.

•  New SARA objectives and strategy

SARA's objectives changed from the initial emphasis on lobbying to cover issues relating to regional railway operations, marketing, technical standardization and operations among others. There was also a change in the approach to achieve modal equity from pays principle to an investment based approach whereby governments are encouraged to invest in rail infrastructure in the same way they do for road.

3.4 Associate membership to the Union of African Railways (UAR)

SARA joined the Union of African Railways as an Associate member in November last year. This affiliation provides a platform for synchronising SADC projects with those of the African Union (AU) given that UAR is the AU's implementing agency for railways. SARA will also benefit from sharing technical and operational information with the International Union of Railways (UIC) to which UAR is affiliated.

The Association had to reflect on these major developments that necessitated the re-launch, which is an expression of the railways' desire to recommit themselves to serving the region and meet the ideals that the association stands for. For SARA and its member railways to be able to meet their objectives, they need support in the areas indicated below.

6. Areas requiring assistance from Governments

i). Investment in infrastructure in line with the provisions of the Brazzaville Declaration.

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.

vii) Clarification of the role of the state through the creation of appropriate institutional frameworks.