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COMESA states urged to maintain peace

By Mildred Mulenga, PANA, 30 June 1998

Kinshasa, Congo - Leaders the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa on Monday reiterated the need to maintain peace and security in the region as the organisation moves towards the establishment of a free trade area by the year 2000.

The leaders, at their one-day summit, adopted the report of the council of ministers which resolved to ensure a free trade by the year 2000 for the establishment of a large single market that would stimulate and attract domestic, regional and foreign direct investment.

According to the final communique, the member states agreed to reduce and publish tariffs in accordance with the timetable agreed. The countries are expected by October to reduce their tariffs by 90 percent.

Egypt, which was admitted on Monday as a new member, reiterated its determination to contribute positively to the attainment of a free trade area by the year 2000.

The leaders have also appointed Erastus Mwencha as the new Comesa secretary-general for a five-year period and Sindiso Ngwenya as the assistant secretary general.

The summit also appointed Tanzanian Judge Josaphat Kanywanyi, also for a five-year term, as the president of the Comesa Court of Justice, to be established soon in Lusaka.

The summit was attended by the presidents of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Swaziland was represented by its prime minister, and Egypt by the foreign minister.