Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

• 11 Countries (14 Bilateral Commissions)

ANGOLA

Joint Commission of Co-operation (Sgn. Nov 2000)

Sessions every 2 years (Ministerial & Senior officials) Biannual follow-up meetings (Senior officials)

• Ministerial & Senior officials
• Last session - Ministerial (Feb 2003, Pretoria)
• Next session - Ministerial (Oct 2005, Luanda)
• Last meeting - Senior officials (March 2004, Pretoria)
• Leading Dept.: DFA
• Focus: Socio-economic and political co-operation

Purpose: Post conflict reconstruction through a number of bilateral agreements on a wide range of issues of mutual interests.

Joint Permanent Commission for Co-operation (Est. March 2003)

• Sessions every 2 years (Ministerial & Senior officials
• Annual meetings (Senior officials)
• Ministerial & Senior officials
• Next session - Ministerial (Sep/Oct 2005, Pretoria)
• Last meeting - Senior officials (Aug 2004, Pretoria)
• Leading Dept.: DFA
• Focus: Socio-economic co-operation
• Purpose: Socio-economic issues and the identification of mutual challenges related to day-to-day interaction between the two countries. Political co-operation and SACU related matters.

BOTSWANA (continue)

Joint Permanent Commission on Defence and Security (Est. June 2000)

• Annual sessions
• Ministerial and Senior officials
• Last session (June 2004, Kempton Park
• Leading Dept.: SANDF, SASS, SAPS, NIA, Home Affairs, SARS

• Focus: Defence, state and public security, crime, etc.
• Purpose: Day-to-day co-operation re defence, security and crime issues (military training, crime prevention – cross border crime, etc.).

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (DRC)

Joint Bi-national Commission (Est. Aug 2004)

• Annual sessions (April 2005, Pretoria)
• Presidential, Ministerial & Senior officials
• Last meeting (Apr 2005, Pretoria)
• Leading Dept.: DFA
• Focus: Post-conflict reconstruction, logistical preparations for 2005/6 general elections, etc.

Purpose:

• Facilitate peace, stability and post conflict reconstruction and development. (logistical and technical assistance for elections and infrastructure development). 15 agreements

DRC (continue)

• Identify and conclude bilateral agreements on a wide range of issues of mutual interests.
• Assist with forthcoming 2005/6 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

LESOTHO

• Biannual Sessions (Ad hoc Cluster meetings)
• Ministerial & Senior officials
• Last session & cluster meetings (Apr 2005, Pretoria)
• Leading Dept.: Four clusters: Economic; Social; Security &

Stability: Good Governance

• Purpose: Assist Lesotho to graduate from LDC status. (Economic development)

MALAWI

"Joint Commission for Economic, Technical, Scientific and Cultural co-operation"

• Agreement to be concluded during 2005

• Annual sessions
• Ministerial & Senior officials
• Leading Dept.: DFA
• Focus: Economic, technical, scientific & cultural co-operation
• Purpose: Promoting NEPAD, spatial development projects and other mutually beneficial socio- economic co-operation programmes/projects in the areas of agriculture, health etc.

MOZAMBIQUE

Heads of State Economic Bilateral (Est.1997)

• Biannual meetings
• Presidential, Ministerial & Senior officials
• Last meeting (Apr 2005, Maputo)
• Leading Dept.: DTI
• Focus: Identify & monitor joint macro-economic projects in Mozambique, socio-economic projects in Mozambique, socio-economic c0-0peration, trade, transport, tourism, labour, communication, energy, agriculture etc.

• Purpose: Promote soclo-economic development(25 agreements signed)

MOZAMBIQUE

• Sessions every 2 years
• Ministerial & Senior officials
• Last session (Nov 2003, Maputo)
• Next session (Nov 2005, Pretoria)
• Leading Dept.: DFA
• Focus: Monitoring of joint projects/programmes, socio-economic co-operation, trade, transport, tourism, etc.

• Purpose: Promote bilateral co-operation in various areas

NAMIBIA

Heads of State Economic Bilateral (Est. Apr 1999)

• Annual Meetings
• Presidential, Ministerial & Senior officials
• Last meeting (Aug 2003, Windhoek)
• Leading Dept.: DTI
• Focus: Socio-Economic co-operation, energy, environment, etc.
• Purpose: Spatial Development Initiatives, SACU issues, Agreements (Natural Gas Trade Agreement, !Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Trans frontier Conservation Park).

NAMIBIA (continue)

Joint Commission on Defence and Security (Sgn. Jun 1997)

• Annual sessions
• Ministerial& Senior officials
• Last session (Aug 2004, Walvis Bay) Leading Dept.: SANDF
• Focus: Defence, state and public security, crime, etc.
• Purpose: Day-to-day co-operation in defence and security matters (military training, maritime protection, rescue services, crime prevention - cross border crime, etc.).

SWAZILAND

Joint Bilateral Commission for Co-operation (Est. Dec 2004)

• Every two years
• Ministerial & Senior officials
• Signing ceremony - Dec 2004, Pretoria
• Leading Dept.: DFA
• Purpose: Promote values of political reform and socio-economic co-operation.

December meeting paved the way for future co-operation

TANZANIA

"Presidential Economic Commission"

• Agreement to be concluded during 2005, Pretoria
• Annual sessions
• Presidential, Ministerial & Senior officials
• Leading Dept.: DTI
• Focus: Socio-economic co-operation (Trade and Industry)

• Purpose: Promote economic co-operation, trade, development of natural resources, development corridors and infrastructure.

ZAMBIA

General Agreement on Economic, Social, Scientific, Technical and Cultural Co-operation (Sgn. 1996)

• Sessions every 2 years
• Ministerial & Senior officials
• Last meetings -

• Leading Dept: DFA
• Purpose: Promote Economic, Social, Scientific, Technical & Cultural co-operation

ZIMBABWE

Joint Commission for Economic, Technical, Scientific and Cultural Co-operation (Est. Oct 1996)

• Sessions every 2 years
• Ministerial & Senior officials
• 2nd and last session held on 2 Nov 2002 in Pretoria. Subsequent sessions stalled due to tight work schedules and finding appropriate dates
• Leading Dept.: DFA
• Focus: Socio-economic, Scientific and political co-operation
• Purpose: Promoting Socio-economic and political co-operation