31 Mar 2014

Zimbabwe and SADC have called for timely finalisation of negotiations on the COMESA-East Africa Community (EAC)-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area and establishment of the SADC Customs Union.

According to a press release from SADC, this followed president of Zimbabwe, Mr Robert Mugabe’s call for the urgent need for harmonisation of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and SADC emphasising that both regional and economic communities were established with an objective of enabling member states to attain economic development through regional initiatives and programmes.

The release said President Mugabe further underscored the importance of regional integration to development. It stated that during the courtesy call by SADCexecutive secretary, Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax on President Mugabe in Harare, the two reiterated the importance of establishing a SADC customs union, as it would accelerate and deepen regional integration.

During the courtesy call, the two emphasised that as substantial work had been done, the main task was to consolidate and refine technical work done in order to reach agreement and forge a common understanding on parameters, benchmarks, timelines and implementation  modalities of SADC customs union.

The release further states that they emphasised that the Tripartite Agreement should be used as a building block to address the multiple membership challenges, observing that membership overlaps exist among SADC, COMESA and EAC which presented challenges. Furthermore, they noted that both Tripartite Free Trade area and SADC Customs Union require commitment by member states. 

Zimbabwe and SADC also reiterated the importance of African Unity and economic independence in fostering continental development agenda, says the release.

They also called for innovative ways of funding SADC regional programmes and urgent need to re-examine the structure of the annual budgets of the SADC Secretariat.

The two leaders observed that the fact that more than half of the total budget came from International Cooperating Partners (ICP’s) created problems of ownership and sustainability. 

While appreciating the support from ICP’s, the release says, the two leaders agreed that there was an urgent need to reduce dependence and embark on dynamic means that would enable the region to optimally develop and use its natural resources, while focusing on key priority areas to make impacts on SADC development and integration agenda.

They also urged for implementation of the SADC resource mobilisation strategy and a speedy finalisation and operationalisation of the SADC regional development fund.

In addition, they underscored the need to expeditiously finalise the review of the Regional Indicative Strategic Plan (RISDP), says the release. 

Dr Tax also paid courtesy calls on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Patrick Chinamasa, Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Mr Joseph Made, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Mr W. Mzembi, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr M. Bimha.

It further states that in discussions with the government ministers, it was agreed that value addition and beneficiation of natural resources as well as infrastructure development were cornerstones of regional development.

They emphasised the need for commitment to the SADC Industrial Development Policy Framework and the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan(RIDMP) which guided the implementation of coordinated and integrated infrastructure networks in six priority areas of energy, transport, tourism, information technology, meteorology and water.

While in Harare, the release states that SADC Executive Secretary met SADC ambassadors based in Harare Zimbabwe, also visited SADC Regional Peace  Keeping Training Centre(RPTC) and the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre.

Dr Tax appreciated and underscored the importance of research in regional integration, and the SADC and SARD agreed to enhance their cooperation through the existing MOU between the two ministries. Ends