The document summarizes COMESA's efforts to promote regional integration and development in Eastern and Southern Africa. Specifically: 1) COMESA congratulates the re-election of President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi, a former COMESA Secretary General. 2) The Prime Minister of Swaziland supports COMESA's "Buy African, Build Africa" strategy to encourage intra-African trade. 3) A Zambian minister notes that increased trade in staple crops could significantly boost incomes in the COMESA region.

1. newsletter
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Issue #205 22nd May 2009
Issue #126 - Friday 19 October 2007 newsletter
COMESA Cheered by re-election
of Bingu wa Mutharika
C
OMESA secretariat was amoung the
first to congratulate President Bingu
wa Mutharika on his re-election as
President of the republic of Malawi. President
wa Mutharika a former Secretary General of
COMESA, has been re-elected for his second
and final five year term and is due to be
sworn in today ( Friday 22nd May 2009).
“On behalf of the Common Market for
Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
Secretariat, and indeed on my own behalf,
I have the honour and pleasure to extend
to you, Your Excellency, our heartfelt
congratulations on your re-election as
President of the Republic of Malawi. The
people of Malawi, through the clear majority
vote cast on your behalf, have expressed their of the various programmes that you that we shall continue to benefit from your
confidence in your leadership” COMESA spearhead during your time as Secretary wise guidance and unwavering support as we
Secretary General’s message said in part. General” added Mr Ngwenya. deepen economic integration” he concluded.
“COMESA Secretariat still cherishes your President Bingu wa Mutharika served
“Under your leadership, the Republic of personal contribution as former Secretary as COMESA Secretary General and its
Malawi has continued to play an active role in General of COMESA, Africa’s largest predecessor the PTA from 1990 up to 1997
the growth of COMESA and implementation Economic Community. We have no doubt
Swazi PM Dr. Barnabas Governments, from the COMESA
member countries.
Sibusiso Dlamini nods to During the visit Mr Ngwenya
“Buy African, Build Africa” Secretary General met Prime Minister
Dr. Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini at the
(BABA) strategy Cabinet Offices where is also met
with the Minister of Commerce, Trade
T
he Prime Minister of Kingdom of develop Swaziland” strategy. and Industry Jabulile Mashwama.
Swaziland Dr. Barnabas Sibusiso “Swaziland has come a long way He indicated that highlights of the
Dlamini has given a nod to the with COMESA, and the country’s COMESA launch would include the
“buy African, developed Africa” slogan membership to this body has been regional payments and settlement
specifically coined to encourage trade fruitful”. He pointed out. system where member states will
amongst nations of the continent. be making submissions on how the
The slogan was unveiled to the Prime Secretary Ngwenya paid was on a payment process and the Buy Africa
Minister by the COMESA Secretary two days visit to consult with the Build Africa ( BABA) brand.
General Sindiso Ngwenya during his kingdom of Swaziland in preparation
two days visit to the kingdom. for the launch of the COMESA union Making his remarks at Cabinet,
which will be held in Zimbabwe Ngwenya observed that Swaziland is
Dlamini said Swaziland would imitate next month. The launch will also still a fully fledged member to both
this by adopting a “Buy Swaziland, be attended by Heads of State and continued to page 2
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2. from page 1
COMESA and SACU and continues to enjoy the benefits offered by both entities. SACU is the Southern African Customs
Union. He advised that Swaziland should not be torn apart about choosing between SACU and COMESA, adding this
2 period is not an ideal time for countries to be making such decisions. In this regard, he said the solution for the complex
African trade issues lies with formation of a Pan African Free Trade Area which would encompass all African states to
robustly trade amongst themselves adding that that the idea of a Pan African trade regime should be fully explored, and if
need be, speeded up so as to address the complex African trade issues.
During the visit Mr Ngwenya paid homage to His Majesty King Mswati III for his commitment to COMESA. He also noted
that His Majesty has been an advocate for a Pan African Trade Area. Swaziland is a founding member of COMESA and by
participating in COMESA activities, the country has been able to sell its products at preferential tariff rates to 18 member
states. Swaziland’s exports to COMESA now stand at E1.4 billion. ( over US $140 million)
COMESA Observer Mission declares Malawi
elections free and fair COMESA Brief
Representatives
This week COMESA Secretary
General briefed the committee
of Permanent representatives to
COMESA ahead of the Summit
and Launch of the COMESA
Customs Union. Permanent
representative are composed of
Embassies and High Commissions
of COMESA Member States
represented in Zambia. The
Zambian government is also
COMESA observer Mission to Malawi represented at this committee.
A
nd the European Union Election cast and the declared results thus far as
Observation Mission and the a true reflection of the will of the people
Common Market for Eastern of Malawi in the 2009 Presidential and Meanwhile the Indian High
and Southern Africa (COMESA) election Parliamentary Elections” the report said in
observer missions have declared the part.
Commission to Zambia who is
Malawi election as free and fair, adding also a special representative to
that they were held under a tranquil and He congratulated the people of Malawi
peaceful environment. for the peaceful election and a huge turn COMESA HE Ashok Kumar this
out to cast the votes, which he said was an week also paid a courtesy call to
It his preliminary report, Head of important ingredient to the development
COMESA Election Observer Mission, of democracy. COMESA Secretariat. He was
Otema Musuka, said at a press briefing There are currently has nearly six million
on Lilongwe yesterday that the mission
received by Ambassador Nagla
registered voters in Malawi, out of the 13
did not witness any occurrence that could million people. El-Hussainy, Assistant Secretary
have compromised the integrity of the
votes cast. General Administration and
The mission was composed of eminent
persons from six (6) COMESA Member Finance, who was then acting as
“The Mission did not witness any States (DR Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Sudan,
occurrences that could have compromised Zambia and Zimbabwe) and the COMESA Secretary General. HE Ashok
the integrity of the votes cast. In short, Secretariat. Kumar confirmed that he would
the process took place in an environment,
which was transparent and secure enough The Mission shall prepare a detailed represent his country at the
to guarantee the freedom of the vote report of its observations which shall be
and respect the will of the voters. The
Summit.
submitted to the people of Malawi through
Mission, therefore, considers that the votes the Malawi Electoral Commission.
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3. Trade in Staple Crops has great potential to
increase incomes in the COMESA region 3
Zambian Minister of Agriculture and important effort to respond to the high and cardinal to ACTESA.
Cooperatives responsible for livestock, food prices and sustainably address
veterinary and fisheries, Bradford regional food security because food “We are determined to raise our
Machila this week pointed out that insecurity undermined the overall cooperation in confronting the many
trade staple crops has great potential development process in the region. challenges that face us to a new high,
to increase incomes in the Common “This region expects ACTESA to be an we look forward to a region in which,
Market for Eastern and Southern Africa effective and non bureaucratic initiative agricultural productivity is driven by an
region. that serves farmers,” he said. expanded market and where consumers
Mr. Machila congratulated COMESA for will have access to quality products at
Mr. Machila said this at the official championing the development of the affordable rates,” he said.
opening of COMESA’s Alliance for agricultural sector through dedicated
Commodity Trade in East and Southern implementation of the Comprehensive ACTESA was launched on September
Africa (ACTESA) planning meeting Africa Agriculture Development 24, 2008 as a result of the meeting
in Livingstone, Zambia yesterday ( Programme (CAADP). of COMESA Ministers of agriculture
Thursday 21st May ). The meeting was held in Seychelles in March 2008,
attended various development partners, He further thanked the development where the COMESA Secretariat was
farmers’ organizations and stakeholders partners present at the launch for their mandated to hasten the preparation and
from across the globe. support and urged them to rededicate design of ACTESA as a follow up to the
themselves to ACTESA. 2006 Abuja declaration by the African
Mr. Machila pointed out that it was Union on food security in Africa to
of critical importance for ACTESA to COMESA Secretary General, Sindiso promote development of collaborative
produce an appropriate trade and Ngwenya informed the meeting that partnerships for expanded trade in
marketing agenda that would motivate COMESA intra-regional trade stood staple foods.
producers to become sustainable and at a provisionally estimated figure
reliable for the huge regional market. of US$ 15 billion in 2008 from US$ The main goal of ACTESA is to increase
3.1 billion in 2000, noting that an farmer productivity and incomes in the
“The COMESA region has great increasing proportion of the trade was COMESA region through trade in staple
agricultural potential, COMESA is one in agricultural goods thereby providing crops. It is an answer to the region’s
of the biggest producers of cassava real market benefits to the farming agricultural challenges that include trade
and banana in the world, but because community. related constraints, low productivity,
of lack of markets, large cassava technological and policy related
quantities are never harvested - they Mr. Ngwenya, who was represented constraints.
are left underground,” he said. “We by COMESA Investment Promotion and
have not been able to systematically Private Sector Development (IPPSD) The targeted staple crops under the
commercialize staple crop sub-sectors; director Chungu Mwila, said with the ACTESA programme include maize,
it is therefore gratifying to see that coming on board of the Customs Union sorghum, rice, beans, pulses, cassava,
COMESA is now moving to motivate our to be launched next month, a large and bananas. In addition, livestock and
staple crop growers by developing an economic space with fully harmonized livestock products, as well as selected
industrial base in crops.” trade regimes would be created, which food products produced in marginal
was of critical importance to both agro-ecological zones, will be included.
Mr. Machila noted that ACTESA was an producers and consumers in COMESA
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