SADC LAUNCHES its free trade area this August, signalling the creation of one of the largest free trade zones on the African continent with some 250 million people.

The official launch is expected during the 28th SADC Summit in South Africa, a historic event that will usher in a new era of economic integration and rapid industrialisation of the sub-region through expanded trading opportunities.

Premised on the gradual removal of barriers to trade, the Free Trade Area (FTA) is a culmination of an eight-year process that started with the signing of the SADC Trade Protocol in 1996, which came into force in 2000.

In addition to the Trade Protocol, SADC Member States have adopted the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), which outlines the roadmap for further regional economic integration. [read more]

AU defers continental government to next year

AFRICAN LEADERS have deferred their discussion of a union government until January next year after failing to reach a consensus at their Summit in Egypt in July.

A high-level expert group of 12 heads of state was established at the 10^th African Union (AU) Summit in Ghana early this year, specifically to accelerate the process of establishing a union government but consensus remains elusive.

Heads of State and Government attending the 11^th Session of the AU Summit on 30 June and 1 July in Egypt, decided to defer the discussion to their next summit in January 2009, to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In the discussions to date, African leaders have retained different perspectives on the timeframe for implementation, with Libya and some West African states including Senegal pressing for the immediate establishment of a union government and appointment of ministers. [read more]

SADC power supply-demand remains unstable, SAPP

THE ELECTRICITY supply-demand situation in the region continues to be unstable as evidenced by the recurrence of blackouts and load shedding in virtually all SADC countries with the exception of Mauritius.

This is according to a midyear status report by the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

“This situation is undesirable and has negative consequences on trade, industry, social services and the general economic development in the affected countries if not reversed,” says the report.

The report warns that this situation is likely to impact on the SADC regional integration agenda, which depends on the availability of energy and infrastructure services. [read more]