Minutes of AFUR Executive Committee Meeting

4_AFUR_9thAGA_DraftMinutes8thAGA_doc2_190412 

DRAFT MINUTES OFTHE 8 TH AFURANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

21 ST APRIL, 2011 

Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa 

ITEM 1 

Welcome and Apologies 

Page 1 of 7


1.1 

1.2 

1.3 

The acting Chairperson, Mr. Haruna Masebu, EWURA, Tanzania,declared opened the8 th Annual General Meeting (AGA) meeting at 09:00 am on21 st April 

2011. The acting Chairperson explained to the meeting, that he was nominated at the 25 th Exco Meeting held in Yaoundé, Cameroon on the 1 st April 2011 to 

Chair the 8 th AGA, should the Chairperson, Prof Assi Bénié, ANARE, Cote d’Ivoire not be present at the meeting due to the political situation in Cote d’Ivoire 

and tendered the apologies of the Chairperson, Prof Assi Bénié. 

The acting Chairperson furthermore explained that the Vice Chairperson, Dr. Frank Sebbowa, ERA, Uganda nor a representative from ERA was not present at 

the 25 th Exco meeting held in Cameroon and explained the situation with regards to the suspension of Dr. Frank Sebbowa. The acting Chairperson however 

stated that a new CEO of ERA, Uganda, and Mr. Mutambi has been appointed and present at the meeting and introduced Mr. Mutambi to the meeting. It was 

stated that Mr. Mutambi is not familiar with the activities of AFUR, it was agreed that Mr. Masebu will Chair the AGA whilst Mr. Mutambi will co-chair the 

proceedings. The acting Chairperson offered members an opportunity to object to these arrangements. No objections were received. 

The acting Executive Secretary (ES) Mrs. Debbie Roets confirmed the attendance of members as per attendance but was noticed that there is not a quorum. 

Due to the late arrival of LEA, Lesotho (member), the meeting had a quorum and the meeting continued. 

Members Present: 

i) Mr. Haruna Masebu, EWURA, Tanzania, Member 

ii) Mr. Nadjib Otmane, CREG, Algeria, Member 

iii) Mr. DemenouTapamo Deputy GM, ARSEL, Cameroon, Member 

iv) Ms. Nomalanga Sithole, NERSA, South Africa, Member 

v) Dr. Sam Amadi, NERC, Nigeria, Member (arrived late) 

vi) Mr. Maleh Saine, PURA, The Gambia, Ex officio 

vii) ARE, Mauritania 

Apologies: 

i) Prof. Assi Bénié, ANARE, Côte d’Ivoire, AFUR, Chairperson 

ii) Mr. B Mutambi, ERA, Uganda, Vice Chairperson 



Secretariat: 

i) Mrs. Deborah Roets, Acting Executive Secretary, South Africa 

ii) Mrs. Juanita Swanepoel, South Africa 



ITEM 2 

Register of Members Present 

2.1 The members present appended their signatures on the attendance register. The attendance register was circulated 

3.1 

3.2 

3.3 

3.4 

4.1 

4.2 

4.3 

ITEM 3 

Adoption of the Draft Agenda 

The draft agenda(3_AFUR_8thAGA_DraftAgenda_doc1_210411)was reviewed for 

adoption: 

The acting ES stated that an additional point should be added to the Agenda, 

5.4 (Budget). 

The Agenda proposed by ARE, Mauritania and was seconded by EWURA, 

Tanzania and moved the motion for adoption. 

The AGA adopted the Agenda. 

The agenda was adopted by the 

AGA(3_AFUR_8thAGA_DraftAgenda_doc1_21 

0411) 

ITEM 4 

Adoption of the Draft Minutes of the 7 th Annual General Committee Meeting 

The acting ES took members of the AGA through the draft minutes of the 

7 th Annual General Committee meeting (4_AFUR_8 th AGA_ 

DraftMinutes7thAGA_doc2_210411) held in Abuja, Nigeria. 

The acting ES apologised for the poor format in which the previous minutes are 

presented to the meeting. She also apologised for the French translated 

version of the minutes as it was inadequately translated. 

Some minor errors were observed and rectified and the minutes of the 7 th 

Annual General meeting were proposed by CREG, Algeria and seconded by 

ARE, Mauritania. The minutes were adopted by the meeting. 

The minutes of the 7 th AGA Meeting 

(4_AFUR_8 th AGA_ 

DraftMinutes7thAGA_doc2_210411) were 

adopted. 

Chairperson 

Secretariat 

ITEM 5 

The Annual Report of AFUR 

5.1 The acting Ex ecutive Secretary took the Annual G eneral Meeting The Annual General Meeting took note of 

through the Annual Report on AFUR 

the 

(5_AFUR_8 th 

(5_AFUR_8 th AGA_AnnualReport_doc3_210411) and members were invited to AGA_AnnualReport_doc3_210411) report. 

comment. 

Secretariat 



5.2 

The acting Chairperson, Mr Haruna Masebu, EWURA, Tanzania presented the 

chairperson’s report on behalf of the Chairperson, Prof Assi Bénié. The acting 

Chairperson informed the meeting that the 7 th Special Executive Committee 

which met on 18 th April 2011 resolved to appoint Mrs. Debbie Roets in the acting 

position of AFUR Executive Secretary until April 2012 because of the financial 

position of AFUR. A recruitment drive will commence after April 2012. The 

acting Chairperson reported on the EU project and reported that the workshops 

in the Gambia and Kenya were very successful. On a question raised, the 

chairperson reported that GTZ are not willing to re-establish the partnership with 

AFUR. The acting Chairperson also reported that the 8 th AFUR Conference that 

was held the past two (2) days were very successful. 

CREG, Algeria proposed that the Chairperson’s and acting ES reports should 

both be discussed and then moved for adoption. 

5.3 

The acting ES summarized the ES report to the meeting. An appeal was made 

to members to respond to emails and surveys send from the Secretariat and 

requested member countries to update details of focal persons. 

Dr Sam Amadi, NERC, Nigeria stated that all members should seek partnerships 

for AFUR and stated that it’s not only the responsibility of the Secretariat. A 

suggestion was made that membership fees should be increased to ensure that 

the Secretariat is sustainable. He also suggested that a profile on the 

background of AFUR must be drafted and proposed that NERC can compile a 

profile within 2 – 3 weeks. Dr. Andzenge responded by stating that the Kenya 

workshop was very successful and that these workshops should be used to 

market AFUR. Mr. Mafunda, ZERC, Zimbabwe added that all important 

institutions should be invited to the Conference. Mr. Mutambi proposed that 

there should be a resolution that AFUR must become part of the AU and 

deferred the matter to the next ExCo meeting. 

5.4 

5.5 

5.6 

An appeal was made to ExCo members to attend ExCo meeting. It was stated 

that if a member country was nominated to serve on Executive level, to attend 

the meetings or make place for a country who wish to play an active role. 

ARE, Mauritania expressed their gratitude towards the acting ES for her 

dedication and hard work. 

The reports were proposed by Namibia and seconded by Nigeria. Both reports 



were adopted. 

5.7 

5.8 

5.9 

5.10 

5.11 

6.1 

6.2 

The acting ES reported on the financial reports as presented. She stated that 

AFUR received a qualified report from the Auditors meaning that if AFUR was a 

trading company, AFUR would be trading recklessly. Mr. Mutambi said that the 

subcommittee Budget, Finance and Planning met the day before and the budget 

was reviewed and costs were cut to the minimum. 

The acting ES mentioned reported on the withdrawal of membership of ICASA 

of South Africa which was one of AFUR’s biggest contributors. The acting ES 

gave a projective overview on the finances as well as the outstanding creditors 

that still has to be paid. On a question raised why the auditors did not present 

the report in person, the acting ES responded that it is due to financial 

constraints and their rates are charged hourly. 

The acting ES reported as an alternative source of income, training sessions will 

be scheduled by the Secretariat. 

Ms. Sithole, NERSA reported that the NERSA Board might consider writing off 

the bad debt of AFUR but is waiting for official written confirmation. The acting 

ES reported that the AFUR offices have been reduced to 3 offices and a 

reduced rental fee was negotiated with AFUR. 

The financial report was proposed for adoption by Mauritania and seconded by 

Mali. 

ITEM 6 

Draft Memorandum of Understanding with Partner Institutions 

The acting Executive Secretary presented the draft NEPAD MoU and ERERA 

MoU (6_AFUR_8 th AGA_NEPADMoU_doc4_210411 and 6_AFUR_8 th AGA_ MoU_doc 

5_ERERA) to the Annual General Meeting. 

The Annual General meeting had no objections to the proposed MoU’s and it 

was resolved to approve the two MoU’s. The documents will be presented to the 

respective parties for signatures by the acting ES. 

ITEM 7 

Theme of the 9 th Conference and AGA 

The Executive Committee approved the 

MoU’s 

(6_AFUR_8 th AGA_NEPADMoU_doc4_210411 

and 6_AFUR_8 th AGA_ MoU_doc 5_ERERA) 

as presented. 

Secretariat 



7.1 

The acting Executive Secretary, presented 

(7_AFUR_8 th AGA_Theme_doc7_210411) to the ExCo Members. 

The Executive Committee took note of 

(7_AFUR_8 th AGA_Theme_doc7_210411) 

Secretariat 

7.2 

The acting ES stated that a letter for proposals of a Theme for the 9 th AFUR 

Conference will be circulated via email shortly after the 8 th Conference to 

Members and members were urged to kindly respond to the email. 

ITEM 8 

Any Other Business 

8.1 The acting ES presented the applications of 3 new members whom have 

declared their interest to become members of AFUR namely, ARMP of 

Cameroon, NCC of Nigeria and Sumatra. The applications were considered 

and approved by the Annual General meeting 

The AGA considered and approved the 

applications of new members. 

ITEM 9 

Closing Statement by the Chairperson 

9.1 The acting Chairperson thanked the acting ES, the interpreters and all present The Annual General Meeting resolved to 

at the AGA. The co-chair also thanked Mr. Masebu for standing in and hold the next Conference in Yaoundé, 

assisting with the chairmanship during the proceedings. The meeting was Cameroon during April 2012. 

closed at 12:25pm. 

Secretariat 

Secretariat 

___________________________ 

ACT. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY 

______________ 

CHAIRPERSON 

End.

Minutes of AFUR Executive Committee Meeting

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