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The Association was represented by the Honourable Raynell Andreychuk, Senator, Co-Chair; Deepak Obhrai, MP, Vice-Chair; the Honourable Mauril Bélanger, PC, MP, former Co-Chair; and Guy André, MP, member of the Association. The delegation was accompanied by Rémi Bourgault, Executive Secretary. Objective of visit To further the Association objectives of strengthening parliamentary relations at the national, regional and bilateral levels and also with the Pan-African Parliament and the regional assemblies of the African Union, the Association conducts bilateral visits to key countries in Africa. First on our list was Mozambique, where Canada has major commitments in terms of grants and development assistance. Mozambique is one of Canada’s twenty-five “development partner” countries. Since 2002, Mozambique has been among the African countries for which the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will increase the financial assistance it provides for investment in priority sectors. CIDA developed its new program framework for Mozambique — focusing on education, agriculture and rural development, the fight against AIDS and governance — in close cooperation with the Mozambique government. One mandate of the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association is development, especially to the extent that development affects parliamentary democracy, the rule of law, human rights and international parliamentary cooperation. During the visit the Association exercised its oversight role and assessed the government objectives of strengthening ties with Mozambique and the importance they attach to assisting Mozambique in its democratic development. The visit also offered an excellent opportunity to reinforce parliamentary relations and cooperation between our two countries. To utilize resources and time effectively, Cape Town, the country’s legislative capital, was added to our visit. The Association felt that South Africa’s ties with Canada could be strengthened at the parliamentary level. The delegation, with the exception of Mr. Obhrai, made a brief stopover in Cape Town. Contacts In Mozambique, the delegation met the following people: § The Honourable Eduardo J. Mulembwe, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Mozambique § Isabel Manuel Nkavadeka, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs § Henrique Banze, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation § Manuel J. Tomé, Government Whip, FRELIMO § Maria José Moreno, Opposition Whip, RENAMO § Virgínia Videira, MP, Committee Chair § Leopoldo Ernesto, MP, Committee Chair § Ussmane Ali Daúto, MP, Committee Chair § Eduardo Namburete, MP, APNAC § Alexandre Meque, MP, Committee Chair § Alberto da Barca, Ética The delegation was the first Canadian parliamentary delegation to visit Mozambique since our new embassy opened in 2004. The delegation visited a school on the outskirts of Maputo. That interesting experience provided a glimpse of the desire of the local population to improve access to education despite limited financial means. The delegates also attended a reception as part of Francophonie Week. In South Africa, the delegation met: § Peggy M. Hollander, Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Parliament of South Africa § Joyce Mabel Masilo, Chairperson, Select Committee on Social Services, National Assembly, Parliament of South Africa § Ben Turok, MP § Celia-Sandra Botha, MP § Judith February, IDASA § Dr. Adekeye Adebajo, Centre for Conflict Resolution Mozambique Mozambique, a country with a population of 19.8 million (2005) and an estimated per-capita GDP of US$346 (2005), has made remarkable progress since the end of the civil war. However, according to the UN’s human development index, it ranked 168th among 177 countries in 2005. Mozambique became independent in June 1975 after 10 years of war between the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) and Portugal, the country that colonized the territory for five centuries. For the next 17 years, conflict between the FRELIMO government and the Mozambique National Resistance (REMAMO) had grave consequences for the country, destroying much of its infrastructure, including bridges, schools and hospitals. The civil war ended in October 1992. Peace was returned through intervention by the United Nations Operation in Mozambique. In 1994, Mozambique held its first multi-party elections. After the war, Mozambique undertook major reconstruction projects: communications links were restored, the basic social structure was restored, and extensive mine clearance and border demarcation were carried out. From very far back in 1994, Mozambique now has one of the highest rates of annual economic growth in the world (average of almost 8% per year). Many problems persist: health care, agriculture, education, vulnerability to natural disasters, high incidence of AIDS. Despite growing urbanization, the majority of the population still lives in the countryside, and subsistence agriculture remains the primary source of income for most Mozambicans. The government has made considerable headway in reducing poverty. It recently distributed the preliminary version of its second 2006-2007 Action Plan for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty (PARPA). The Mozambique economy is gradually diversifying, but subsistence agriculture is still the economic base. Tourism is being developed; the natural resources sector is a growing factor in the economy; and the country has proven its ability to make large investments in megaprojects. Relations with Canada Mozambique is an increasingly important partner for Canada in Africa. Relations between the two countries increased when Mozambique was designated a “development partner” of CIDA in 2003. That, coupled with the opening of a full-fledged High Commission in Maputo in 2004, marked a significant and positive turning point in Canada’s commitment to Mozambique and the region. Canada has been providing public development assistance to Mozambique since the country attained independence in 1975. After peace was restored and the first multi-party elections were held in 1994, Canadian aid was expanded to incorporate electoral aid, health and education programs, resettlement of refugees, rebuilding of railways and development of civil society. Since 2003, Canadian aid has covered education, agricultural and rural development (in particular water, sanitation services and microfunding), and health, specifically the fight against AIDS. These areas are recognized as being compatible with Mozambique’s strategy for reducing poverty. Canada contributes mostly to education, which receives some $20 million annually. Our most visible support in Mozambique is funding for the printing and publishing of textbooks, exercise books and teacher’s manuals for more than three million primary school pupils. More than 20 Canadian organizations are active in Mozambique, many of them since independence or the war years. Their activities cover a broad spectrum: university links and rural development programs, youth internships, and large-scale programs with the Government of Mozambique. In part because Mozambique is one of CIDA’s core countries, the Association wanted to observe the status of Mozambican institutions and the impact of Canadian aid to this country that faces so many challenges. Meetings The delegation met with parliamentarians, NGOs, and staff and students at a school. Meeting with staff and students at a
primary school One of the highlights of the trip to Mozambique was a visit to the primary school in Balane in the district of Marracuene, approximately 30 minutes from the centre of Maputo. The objective was to show the Canadian delegation the conditions in which Mozambican pupils learn and the textbooks funded by Canada being used. A few months earlier, the children were taking their lessons under a tree. During the visit to the school’s “first site”, the staff and students talked about community participation in construction and operation of the school. The primary school in Balane is a poor rural school: some 211 pupils in all age groups. The school needs virtually everything. Modestly constructed of local materials and with a sheet steel roof, it can accommodate up to 30 children at a time; it looks nothing like schools in Canada. The children sit on the ground and write with their book on their knees or directly on the ground. Despite those conditions and the unbearable heat, the children were obviously enthusiastic. The children were very glad to have the parliamentarians visit and conveyed their appreciation through traditional Mozambican songs and dances. Speaking on behalf of her fellow pupils, one student thanked the delegation for coming and for bringing gifts, and paid tribute to Canada for its contributions to education, in particular the supply of textbooks. The delegates observed the extent to which Canada’s small contribution to the printing of textbooks under a CIDA program and the donation of basic school supplies could improve the lives of children and adults in Mozambique. Education in Mozambique is fraught with problems, some of which are the result of 30 years of colonial and civil war. CIDA contributes to education through its support program for educational materials in Mozambique. The first memorandum of understanding signed on July 8, 1996, provided for an initial amount of $15 million that was later increased to $20 million. The funds were used to provide some 17 million textbooks and exercise books for all Mozambican students in grades 1 to 7 between 2003 and 2005 – more than 3 million children a year. In view of the positive changes taking place in Mozambique and the country’s substantial educational needs, the Government of Canada (through CIDA) launched a second phase in 2005. Through the SEMM, Canada has become the biggest supplier of educational materials for primary schools in Mozambique. Prior to the school visit, the delegation made a brief courtesy call on the local district director of education, Verónica de Jesus. Corruption The issue of corruption was touched upon several times and was the focus of discussion in two meetings in particular, one with Ética, a donor-funded Mozambican civil society organization whose aim is to promote public integrity and ethics and fight corruption, and one with Eduardo Namburete, an opposition Member of Parliament with Renamo and executive board member of the African Parliament Network Against Corruption (APNAC). These meetings showed the delegation that Mozambique is putting in place systems to resolve corruption problems. The meeting with the NGO Ética made it possible to gauge the impact of corruption on political and economic development in Mozambique and what is being done to fight corruption. Legally established in August 2001, Ética Moçambique was the brainchild of a group of influential leaders in civil society: jurists, journalists, university academics, businesspeople, clergy and ordinary people. The objective of Ética Moçambique is to promote and strengthen integrity, transparency, honesty and public trust by defending moral values. One of the biggest challenges it has faced since it was created is education, as many people do not know what corruption is. Ética gave an outsider’s view of what is happening in Mozambique. It bears noting that the organization’s funding is not secure and has to be renewed in the next few months. Opposition MP Eduardo Namburete spoke to the delegation about the problem of corruption. As a parliamentarian, he focuses in his work on promoting the notions of transparency and good governance as prerequisites to sustainable development. Mr. Namburete is an executive board member of APNAC, the African Parliament Network Against Corruption. APNAC is part of GOPAC, the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption, which is supported by the Canada Fund for Africa, Canada’s parliamentary strengthening program. Government meetings During the meeting with Henrique Banze, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the delegation reiterated the Association’s mission and the purpose of the visit. Bilateral issues of concern to Canada and Mozambique were also discussed. That meeting provided the delegation with an overview of Mozambique’s foreign policy interests. Mr. Banze elaborated on Mozambique’s involvement in NEPAD and SADC, relationships he characterized as vital in fostering the development of the country’s political and economic structures. Speaking about Mozambique’s interest in joining La Francophonie as an observer, he mentioned the strong role the French language played prior to independence and the desire to restore linguistic and cultural ties that have been largely ignored for the past 30 years. As it was in all other meetings, the issue of HIV/AIDS, its impact the country’s development and the need for foreign aid to combat the problem was also raised. The Deputy Minister also gave a brief history of Mozambique and its electoral process. Following the meeting with the Deputy Minister, the delegation attend a brief signing ceremony for the new $10-million contribution agreement between Canada and Mozambique in support of Mozambique’s national agricultural development program. Since 2002, Canada has increased its support for agriculture in Mozambique, recognizing its essential role in the economy (most important private-sector activity) and in the reduction of poverty. PROAGRI (national agricultural development program) is a multi-donor program aimed at improving the effectiveness of public agricultural programs in Mozambique and helping institutions foster equitable and sustainable growth in rural areas. The signing ceremony was covered by the local English and Portuguese print and Web media. Meanwhile, Isabel M. Nkavadeka, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs in the President’s Office, said that her role in the government was to advise and inform the President on parliamentary matters. To accomplish this, the Minister works closely with both Parliament and the President’s Office; as a result, she is very well informed and also influential. The Minister mentioned the need for cooperation in the area of legislative reform and spoke in detail about the positive role the Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association could play in that regard. The Minister welcomed the delegation’s offer to explore areas in which it might be able to offer technical assistance and information provided on the Parliamentary Officers Study Program (Mozambique has never participated in the program). She spoke about the challenges Mozambique has to face and added that Mozambique institutions could certainly benefit from Canadian expertise. For the time being, according to the discussions, only the government can table draft legislation. Parliamentarians need training in order to be able to prepare bills and work to properly represent their constituents, despite the economic situation. Parliamentary meetings In discussions with their parliamentary counterparts, the delegation spoke frankly and very openly about the structure, role and limitations of the Mozambican parliamentary system, yet found a great deal of common ground between the two parliaments’ committees. Both sides were surprised to learn that Mozambique has only eight committees, whereas there are more than 32 in Canada for the two houses combined. The delegation met with representatives of four of the eight committees: planning and budget; international relations; legal and social rights; and genera equality and environment. Other issues discussed were corruption and the fight against corruption; dependency on international aid and its impact on Parliament; education; HIV/AIDS; gender relations; and rural development. The CAPA delegation helped strengthen Canada's support in the areas of governance, gender issues and the fight against HIV/AIDS. The meetings with the RENAMO Opposition Whip, Maria José Moreno, and the FRELIMO Government Whip, Manuel Tomé, allowed the delegation to compare the vision of the two political parties, which were on opposite sides during the civil war and now sit opposite each other in Parliament. To wrap up the visit to Mozambique, the delegation met with the Honourable Eduardo J. Mulémbwé, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique, after touring the Assembly. The Speaker said he was glad to see that the mandate of the Association including strengthening ties between Canada and the African continent. Mozambique can probably learn from Canada. The President said that the Assembly will be creating a Mozambique-Canada friendship group in the near future. The Co-Chair thanked the Speaker for hosting the delegation in Mozambique and giving it the opportunity to meet interesting people and engage in frank, informative discussions. The multi-party delegation is satisfied with the work Canada is doing in Mozambique and hopes that it will continue, as Mozambique appears to be on the right track, working to ensure its development free of conflict. The delegation conveyed the best wishes of the speakers of the Parliament of Canada and told the Speaker about the Parliamentary Officers Study Program. Additional information On the first day of the visit, staff at the High Commission held a briefing session for the delegation on Mozambique and the challenges it faces. The session was very well received and described by the delegates as necessary given the complexity of some issues in Mozambique. During their stay in Mozambique, the members of the delegation gained a general sense of the Francophone presence in the country by attending, along with many representatives of the Francophone community, a reception and a concert by a Canadian artist held as part of Francophonie Week. In addition, six representatives of the Canadian community working in several fields in Mozambique were invited to breakfast. The event enabled the delegation to appreciate the diversity of their activities and hear their opinions about Mozambique. Comments In keeping with its mandate and the objectives of the mission, the Association took advantage of the visit to establish ties between Canadian and Mozambican parliamentarians and gain a better understanding of the issues and challenges facing Mozambique. More to the point, the delegation was keen to better understand why Mozambique was a priority country for Canadian aid and what specifically Canada was doing there in that regard. The meetings gave the delegation a deeper appreciation of the enormous strides the country has made in overcoming its turbulent past, but also made it clear that success is fragile and there are still serious problems, including corruption, AIDS and lack of infrastructures, affecting governance and development in Mozambique. The importance of democracy and good governance to growth and development and the role the international community, including Canada, has to play in this regard despite Mozambique’s “success” compared with other countries in Africa were also discussed. The Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association acknowledged Mozambique’s achievements and noted Canada’s contribution to its development on both a bilateral and a regional level (NEPAD, SADC). It is evident that the country’s operation as a multi-party democracy is still in an early developmental stage. The members of the delegation came to the conclusion that further democracy strengthening for the Parliament in Mozambique is essential. South Africa South Africa has a population of 45.7 million and an estimated per-capita GDP of CAN$5,857. Despite these numbers, the country ranked 119th among 177 countries according to the UN’s human development index. Since the historic transition from apartheid to multiracial democracy, South Africa has become a model of tolerance and conflict resolution and the template for a modern, dynamic and transparent African economy. It plays a diplomatic role on the continent as the architect of the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). The trauma and divisions caused by the years of apartheid did not prevent South Africa from becoming a stable multi-party democracy. That said, the challenges that the government led by the African National Congress (ANC) still has to overcome are enormous. South Africa has serious problems with AIDS. The Parliament of South Africa comprises the National Council of Provinces and the National Assembly. The National Council of Provinces has 90 members elected by indirect ballot. The 400 members of the National Assembly are elected by direct, but proportional ballot. Our meetings gave us an understanding of the electoral system and the workings of the South African Parliament. It should be noted that there is still tension between the various political parties and that there are very big challenges facing this potentially rich country. Meetings The delegation made a one-day working visit to Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, on Friday March 24, 2006, following the Mozambique visit. The brief visit included informal meetings with government representatives, a luncheon with government and opposition MPs, and two sessions with NGOs that monitor parliamentary democracy in South Africa and the region. Parliamentary meetings The delegation met P.M. Hollander, Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, and Joyce Masilo, Member of Parliament and Chairperson of the Select Committee on Social Services. These meetings were cordial and provided an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Canada’s interest in and support for the development of parliamentary democracy in South Africa and the Southern Africa region. In both cases, the discussions were productive and allowed the delegation to learn about the real challenges facing the evolving parliamentary system in post-apartheid South Africa. At a luncheon, the delegation met with government and opposition MPs, Professor Ben Turok of the African National Congress (ANC), and Celia-Sandra Botha of the Democratic Alliance (DA). The stimulating and informative discussion among the guests focused on the role of political parties in Canada and South Africa and made a particularly interesting comparison between the roles of the Canadian Senate and the National Council of the Provinces. A comparison was also made between constituency-based electoral systems and proportional representation, and issues such as party discipline, freedom of action for MPs, and the ability of MPs to cross the floor, for which there is constitutional provision in South Africa, were discussed. The delegates and the luncheon guests agreed on the need for enhanced parliamentary contact between Canada and South Africa, and MPs from the two countries struck an informal agreement to follow up accordingly through the Association, the Parliamentary Centre in Ottawa and other channels. Meetings with non-governmental organizations The delegation met with the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA), the large and very credible Cape Town-based NGO that studies democratic development, and specifically with Judith February, head of the IDASA’s Political Information Monitoring Service. The discussion focused on the concerns of civil society regarding ethics in the Parliament and government of South Africa and the system used to appoint senior public servants as opposed to political appointments. The program ended with a round-table session at the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR) chaired by Dr. Adekeye Adebajo, Executive Director, and including all his program staff. The presentations made by CCR staff covered peacekeeping, conflict resolution, gender issues, AIDS, human security, fundraising and a number of other related topics and were followed by an informative discussion of the challenges facing the Southern Africa region and South Africa itself. The main theme here was the need for training in conflict resolution at all levels of society and government. A number of specific cases in this area were reviewed, and the relationship between human security and AIDS was discussed in detail. This round table was both useful and informative. The Canadian parliamentarians concluded by saying that while they could not make funding recommendations, they would certainly support joint initiatives with the CCR and Canadian partners. Additional information At the Parliament of South Africa, the delegation was received by the Head of Protocol and was given a briefing on and a tour of both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. Comments This visit was useful in gathering information on the evolution of parliamentary democracy in South Africa and surrounding states. Mostly, however, it provided an opportunity to highlight Canada’s support for the role of Parliament in South Africa. The one-day program allowed the delegation to get a better understanding of the current state of the parliamentary process in this relatively young democracy. In both information and formal meetings with government officials, the Canadian parliamentarians were able to show their South African counterparts that they are genuinely interested in the democratic process in South Africa and willing to engage in dialogue with them. This signalled to South Africa that Canada is prepared to assist in maintaining and strengthening the parliamentary system in South Africa, a beacon state in southern Africa. At the luncheon and in the meetings with NGOs, the same message was conveyed, and a wealth of useful information on the current state of parliamentary democracy in South Africa and in the region. Conclusion Overall, the visit to Mozambique and South Africa was a successfully concluded visit achieving the objectives the Association had set. Canada plays an important, positive and necessary role in these two countries, and the Association will continue to track the evolution of democracy and parliamentary institutions in these still-fragile countries. The Association should consider more visits of this nature. Their short-and medium-term impact and the networks they help create are invaluable. Many other African countries receive aid from the Government of Canada and also need the attention of parliamentary organizations like our association. Acknowledgments The delegation would like to express its gratitude to staff at the Canadian High Commission in Mozambique and the Canadian Consulate in Cape Town, South Africa, for their assistance in arranging the visit and the meetings. The delegation is grateful to High Commissioner James K. Hill in Mozambique and Consul General Christopher Brown in Cape Town for their support and availability during their visit. Respectfully submitted, The Honourable Raynell Andreychuk, Senator, Co-Chair Canada-Africa Parliamentary Association
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