The Common Market for Eastern and Southern African States (COMESA) has announced that the 13th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit, initially set to be held in the Republic of Zimbabwe, has been postponed. This follows consultations held with the Bureau (Kenya as Chair, Zimbabwe as Vice Chair and Djibouti as the Rapporteur). The Summit should have been held in Victoria Falls town from 7th to 8th December 2008.

“The postponement of the Summit takes into account the need to begin the process of implementing the task force decisions of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Summit held in Kampala, Uganda, on 22nd  October, 2008, regarding the harmonization of Free Trade Areas (FTA’s) and Common External Tariffs (CET’s) among the three Regional Economic Community (REC’s).  Of immediate priority is the harmonisation of the CET’s of COMESA and EAC.  The consultations between the two Regional Economic Communities will go beyond 8th December, 2008, which is when the COMESA Customs Union was scheduled to be launched, “ the Statement issued from the Secretariat read in part.

COMESA Secretary General Mr Sindiso Ngwenya yesterday said the postponement will not affect the on going preparations for the launch of the Customs Union. This period will be used to fast track the harmonization process and complete the consultations.

Mr Ngwenya  said the Summit and the launch of the COMESA Customs Union will take place between January and June 2009.