SADC COMESA EAC Joint summit to tackle overlapping membership

THE CHALLENGE of overlapping membership among African regions comes under scrutiny in October as leaders of three trade blocs meet to find common ground on trade, customs and infrastructure development.

Uganda hosts the joint summit of SADC, the Common Market of East and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC) on 20 October.

Membership overlaps exist SADC, COMESA and EAC, and all three organisations plan to create customs unions, a situation that presents technical challenges as a country cannot belong to more than one customs union. [read more]

Let us be inspired by Frontline States legacy - Mbeki

SOUTH AFRICAN President Thabo Mbeki turned back the hands of time when he assumed the leadership of SADC on behalf of his country at the 28th Summit in Johannesburg, reminding his colleagues that, although the region faces numerous challenges, none are insurmountable if Member States draw on the inspiring legacy of the Frontline States.

Mbeki took over the rotating SADC chair from Zambia, held by the late President Levy Mwanawasa, and he called for political unity and cohesion in the region.

"SADC inherited the proud record of the Frontline States under the leadership that never wavered in their resolve to ensure that none but ourselves would continue to be our own liberators. This leadership was consistent and courageous despite some of the most horrific human suffering and huge military and economic damage visited on the Frontline States," Mbeki said. [read more]

SADC Leadership 2008/9

THE SADC Summit in August 2008 elected South Africa as chair of SADC for the coming year while the DRC was elected deputy. Thus DRC, South Africa and Zambia, the immediate past chair, make up the SADC Troika. The next SADC Summit will be hosted by the DRC in 2009.

Summit also elected King Mswati III of Swaziland as chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation while Mozambican President Armando Guebuza will deputise. The Organ Troika is now made up of the immediate past chair, Angola, along with Swaziland and Mozambique. [read more]

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