Published by the government of Zimbabwe
3 October 2008
Harare — THE Comesa summit will now be held from November 25 to December 8 in Victoria Falls, starting with the officials' meetings before Heads of State and Government meet.
Heads of Government departments met in Harare yesterday to reactivate preparations for the regional event.
The summit, which was initially scheduled to be held in May this year was postponed to allow Zimbabwe to complete its elections.
President Mugabe will assume chairmanship of the regional grouping at the summit.
Addressing journalists soon after the meeting, Industry and International Trade Secretary Colonel Christian Katsande said the summit would coincide with the launch of the Comesa Customs Union on December 8.
The summit would be held under the theme: "Consolidating Regional Economic Integration through Value Addition, Trade and Food Security."
"The theme was adopted in view of the need to foster regional integration by developing strategies that transform skewed relationships through value addition of primary and semi-processed goods. Agriculture is also the backbone of most Comesa member states and is central in the eradication of poverty," said Col Katsande.
"It is therefore important to formulate strategies that enhance agricultural production and food security in the region. The Comesa Fund is one of the windows that will be used to spearhead infrastructure development, value addition and industrialisation in the region."
A team of senior officials comprising Cabinet Ministers and Permanent Secretaries will visit Victoria Falls next week to assess preparations, said Col Katsande.
The Comesa First Ladies Roundtable will be held on December 7 2008.
Col Katsande said committees to deal with information and publicity, accommodation and hospitality, protocol, entertainment, transport and logistics among others have been set up as part of the preparations.
"We also have the utility team to ensure that public utilities are activated. It is led by the Secretary for Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development Mr (Patson) Mbiriri. The entertainment committee is led by Secretary for Education, Sports and Culture Dr Steven Mahere," said Col Katsande.
A Comesa Business Forum will be held parallel to the policy organs meetings.
The forum is an opportunity for business people within the region to interact and share ideas on how to do business in the region and beyond.
"An exhibition will also be held to show case goods produced in the region. The Zimbabwe business community is invited to fully participate in this event. This is an opportunity to showcase what Zimbabwe has to offer and may lead to good business deals and more information can be obtained from the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries," said Col Katsande.
The Comesa Customs Union will have an agreed Common External Tariff to be charged to third parties.
"The customs union is being launched to further deepen regional integration in line with the Comesa Regional Integration Programme and Article 45 of the Comesa Treaty that requires the establishment of a customs union," said Col Katsande.
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