SADC Renews Bid For Duty-Free Trade | Illicit Drug Trade Likely to Grow in Southern Africa. | LESOTHO: Elections delayed indefinitely | Unita rebels defect

SADC Renews Bid For Duty-Free Trade
Southern African Development Community (SADC) trade ministers recently agreed on a series of fresh steps to help shore up efforts to create duty-free trade in the region after failing to iron out all their remaining differences.

In a move that is likely to prompt questions about the region's readiness to integrate its economies, the ministers gave February not January 2000 as the most realistic deadline to begin dismantling tariff and other non-tariff barriers to trade in the SADC. To expedite the process, the ministers also agreed to conduct a further round of substantive negotiations.

To pave the way for the implementation of SADC's most ambitious economic integration project, the politicians considered steps to strengthen the regional community's capacity. It is envisaged that experts from member countries will be seconded to the SADC secretariat.

The trade ministers also agreed to improve the product coverage of each of their trade offers. The target should be around 85 percent of present intra-SADC trade. Raising the percentage of products to benefit from the liberalisation programme would improve the chances of the final deal being approved by the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Mfundo Nkuhlu, SA's chief negotiator, said SA was satisfied with the meeting's outcome.

Main difficulties are still in the rules of origin to govern trade in clothing and textiles sectors. Proposals to revolve this difficulty include granting a three-year "derogation" to the region's least-developed states. The ministers agreed that rules of origin, which determine the producer nation, should facilitate integrated development to attract investment that will crate sustainable jobs.

Proposals to streamline customs procedures and joint projects were also discussed. (Business Day)

...top

Illicit Drug Trade Likely to Grow in Southern Africa.
According to a recent report released by the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNODCCP), illicit drug trade in southern Africa is to a large extent a manifestation of an emerging survival strategy, one that is likely to grow in acceptance and use, parallel to the current economic decline.

Cannabis is the most widely produced narcotic in Africa. In southern Africa, there is considerable inter-regional trade in the drug. Reports released by UNOCCP in conjunction with the South African Police indicate that cannabis, with a street value of US$15 billion, was being grown in Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland.
In Zimbabwe, where according to UNDOCCP cannabis cultivation is widespread, local production only partially meets demand. The bulk of the imported marijuana available in the country comes from Malawi, which is noted for its exceptionally high quality. Mozambique is also a major producer for the southern African market.

Gary Lewis, UNODCCP Assistant Representative for southern Africa, acknowledges that "poverty, dislocation and social stress" can play a role in the drug problem. He added, "My experience is that the causes of drug use are mainly due to peer pressure, we are talking about being cool, and escapism." (IRIN)

...top

LESOTHO: Elections delayed indefinitely
It would be impossible for Lesotho to hold elections by March next year, South African president Thabo Mbeki was quoted in news reports as saying recently.

Addressing a recent news conference in Durban, Mbeki said that the deadline could not be met because the electoral system, security arrangements and "other issues" had not been finalised.

Mbeki said that the government and political parties in Lesotho had agreed to the postponement. Lesotho politicians had originally agreed that elections would be held within 18 months from October 1998.

The South African president said that he did not know when an election date would be set, but that the Commonwealth Secretary-General would appoint a group of experts to look into the matter and finalise a date.(IRIN)

...top

Unita rebels defect
Jonas Savimbi's internal control appears to be crumbling following the series of military defeats inflicted by government forces (FAA) since it launched its counter-offensive in September. Several key UNITA figures have defected to the Angolan government, and there are reports that Jonas Savimbi has murdered other key aides.

On 10 November a senior UNITA General, Jacinto Bandua, gave himself over to government forces. According to interviews given by General Bandua, he joined UNITA in 1976, and was appointed a general in 1993. He was Jonas Savimbi's aide-de-camp and head of UNITA's logistics department.

According to testimony from General Bandua given at a press conference in Catumbela on 17 November, several leading hardline Generals have been detained on the orders of Savimbi, including General Altino Sapalalo Bock, General Numa, General Antero Morias Vieira and General Armindo Tarzan. The first three were allegedly arrested following their failure to withstand the FAA counter-offensive, whilst General Tarzan apparently came under suspicion.

This version of events was denied by Savimbi's spokesperson, Lukamba Paulo "Gato". According to sources in FAA, Brigadier Grito, Lieutenant-Colonel Octavio and Major Quito Chingufo were also under arrest. Another senior military defector is Lieutenant-Colonel Marcolino Ngongo, a former bodyguard of Savimbi.

On the political front, Anibal Kandeya, the UNITA representative in Britain, has returned to Angola, where he has joined the anti-Savimbi faction, UNITA-Renovada. Kandeya's bank accounts in Britain have been frozen by the Bank of England, and he left Britain prior to his appeal against the decision of the British Home Office to expel him from the country in line with UN sanctions against named UNITA officials.

There have also been defections from inside Savimbi's family. Savimbi's son, Araujo Domingos Sakaita, has returned to Angola from Togo, and gave a lengthy interview in Jornal de Angola on 2 November. One of Savimbi's daughters, Airine Yondela Sakaita, has also publicly come out against her father. (Angola Peace Monitor Vol 3. VI)

...top