After arriving in Arusha we were straightly integrated in the congress and I had to give a presentation in the Trade Committee but as well afterwards in the plenary and I was amazed about the support from the parliamentarians for our transboundary water-cooperation. Of course the region had and has conflicts but the leaders saw themselves as Africans and I was impressed by the calmness but straightness when it came to tricky questions like the war going on in the north of DR Congo or the political situation in Zimbabwe. I believe that a lot of EP parliamentarians could learn a lot from this kind of diplomacy – even if SADC PF is of course another level but ambitious and this gives hope for the future of Southern Africa. We managed also to have a little view on Kilimandjaro but it was unfortunalty always surrounded by clouds and I promised to come back and walk on top. After return to Josie (Johannesburg) we followed-up our interview session and I lost the charger of my notebook, which caused serious problems back in Gaborone but in Africa you find always a solution – it only takes time.

Afterwards we arrived at the water-commission for the Limpopo-river (LIMCOM) in Phalaborwa, where South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana and Zimbabwe met to jointly agree on their water-management. The meeting was organized by GTZ and was very interesting and I could arrange several interviews on the ground. Additionally we might went up in some days to Tanzania… but as Africa is a bit easy-going while organising we still do not know for sure – flights would go on Sunday so Friday is still too early. :)