COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING

Consensus on global issues By HE Jacob Zuma President of the Republic of

he Commonwealth, an international youth empowerment, food security, health and the association of 54 countries spread Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s). throughout Africa, Asia, Australasia, This year’s Commonwealth Theme, focused on the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, the critical issue of “Women as Agents of Change”, to andT the Pacific, is unique in its broad membership address the cardinal role that women in all countries embracing both the North and South. Despite cultural play in society and at the workplace. Women worldwide and geographical differences it offers an opportunity have endured various forms of gender discrimination to bridge the North-South divide and contribute to and South Africa has placed women at the centre of consensus positions on many global issues. The theme the struggle for freedom and social transformation. for the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Since attaining democracy in 1994, women in South Jacob Zuma (CHOGM) is “Building National Resilience, Building Africa have enjoyed growing representation in various was born in 1942 in Global Resilience”. institutional hierarchies and ample space to make great Inkandla, KwaZulu- South Africa supports a resilient and effective strides in both public and private sectors. However we Natal. He joined the Commonwealth in supporting democracy, the rule still have to work hard as a nation to appoint women in ANC in 1958 and became of law and good governance - the core values that high leadership and management positions, to improve a member of its armed unite all of us. We are looking forward to discussing the conditions of the rural women and the education wing. In 1963 he was the recommendations of the Eminent Persons Group of the girl children for a solid foundation. It is South sentenced to 10 years’ (EPG) to revitalize this organization. In the spirit Africa’s commitment to implement the provisions of imprisonment on of reform South Africa also anticipates a report international Conventions such as the Convention on . After by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against 12 years spent in exile, (CMAG) on improving the effectiveness of the Women (CEDAW-1981), the Beijing Declaration and he returned to South Commonwealth. The CHOGM will also provide an Platform for Action (1995), as well as the Millennium Africa to negotiate the ideal platform to address a range of critical challenges Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals transition from the to the developing world in particular climate change, (2000) to achieve gender equality and equal enjoyment regime. strengthening the economic and development agendas, of all human rights. In 1991 he was elected Climate change is a very ANC Deputy Secretary- important issue on the CHOGM General and joined the 2011 agenda and is central in KwaZulu-Natal provincial advancing this theme of resilience. government. In 1994, he South Africa, as incoming COP17/ was elected ANC National CMP7 President, is therefore Chairperson and served pleased with the Commonwealth as Deputy President of Secretary-General’s proposal to South Africa from 1999 leaders to renew their commitment to 2005. Mr Zuma was to global action on mitigation elected ANC President in and adaptation, to improve their 2007 and President of financial assistance to the poorest the Republic of South and most vulnerable states to Africa on 6 May 2009. counter the adverse effects of climate change. It is therefore important to advance the COP17/ CMP7 process and the success of the Durban conference. We also Secretary-General actively involved ministers and Kamalesh Sharma is stakeholders in various regions to greeted by President work towards a credible, equitable 44 Jacob Zuma in and inclusive outcome.

FIRST The Pre-CHOGM Foreign Ministers Meeting MeerKAT, a demonstrator radio telescope alongside We are looking and the CHOGM Retreat thus present valuable the proposed SKA core site, which will be one of the opportunities for building the political will to achieve world’s biggest. Resurgence of astronomy and the SKA forward to credible results in Durban, as well as many other bid have influenced the initiation of undergraduate and pertinent global issues. graduate studies in astrophysics in countries such as discussing the In science and technology, South Africa, partnering Mauritius, , Kenya, Mozambique, Ghana, with eight African countries, remains steadfast in the Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. recommend- bid to bring the (SKA) radio These issues are pivotal in cementing our telescope to Africa, to revolutionise science by probing commitment to Pan-African Unity and through the ations of the universe, eventually promoting expertise and African Diaspora Dialogue as well as my African bringing infrastructure development. The SKA will be Union mandated role to champion infrastructure the Eminent equipped to have 50 times the sensitivity and 10 000 development, we will also address Africa’s development times the survey speed of the best current-day radio and negative characterisation. We intend to unlock Persons Group telescopes. Africa enjoys a considerable comparative the intellectual and other potential of all Africans to advantage in astronomy due to the excellent conditions improve the conditions in the continent, through (EPG) to for observation on the continent – i.e. access to the the institutionalisation of the African Diaspora as the Southern skies, very little light pollution, radio-quiet sixth region. With the support of the African Union, revitalise this zones, etc., and is therefore well positioned to make Africa’s Heads of States and those of the Diaspora will unique contributions to international cooperation, converge in South Africa on 25 May 2012 for a historic organisation hence prioritizing astronomy. South Africa is home gathering to bolster this unity. The expected outcome to the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), is a binding Summit declaration, Program of Action, the single biggest optical telescope in the Southern and a practicable Implementation Plan. Projects such Hemisphere. Other important initiatives include the as a Skills Data Bank, Remittances Institute, Market collaborative HESS gamma-ray telescope in Namibia, Place Investment models and an African News which won the European Union’s prestigious Descartes Network will also be considered. Prize in 2007, and the conversion of redundant The 2011 CHOGM in Perth provides the telecommunications antennae across the continent Commonwealth community and its leaders with the into an African radio astronomy VLBI (Very Long opportunity to reflect, debate and act on the challenges Baseline Interferometer) network. In the Karoo the that face all its members, rich and poor, big and small. USA-supported Precision Array for Probing the Epoch These challenges set a daunting task to the developing of Re-ionisation (PAPER) and C-Band All Sky Survey world and Africa in particular and South Africa looks South (C-Bass) telescopes projects are also underway. forward to playing its part therein, towards sustainable South Africa is currently building the 64-dish and actionable outcomes. F

The Presidency in Cape Town, South Africa. The Tuynhuys gardens are a landmark of the “Mother City” 45

FIRST