Govt committed to spur SADC trade

Govt committed to spur SADC trade

Victoria Falls, August 18, 2014, ZANIS–Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba says government will strive to ensure that it contributes to SADC strategies aimed at driving the regional body to a higher level of economic development.

Mr Kalaba who attended the pre-summit SADC Executive Council of Ministers meetings in Victoria Falls town told ZANIS in an interview today that Ministers deliberated on critical issues they envisage will propel the regional body to new levels of socio-economic prosperity.

He said among the issues advanced by the Zambian delegation was the need for SADC member states to foster trade and economic emancipation as it envisions a liberated SADC by the year 2050 with the removal of trade barriers and tariffs at the centre of attaining the desire to operate as one family.

Mr Kalaba said Zambia places emphasis on the need to remove tariff barriers among the member states and that they should be dealt with under the SADC umbrella if the regional body was to achieve its Vision 2050 to promote sustainable economic and industrial development for job creation.

And Zambia’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe Ndiyoyi Mutiti said Zambia and Zimbabwe have continued to enjoy good working relations.

High Commissioner Mutiti said in view of the Zimbabwean government taking-over as the Chair of SADC for the next one year, the Mission in Harare will ensure that it coordinates and facilitates Zambia’s participation in all the sector meetings that will take place between now and August 2015.

The 34th SADC Ordinary Summit for Heads of State and Government is being held under the theme ‘SADC Strategy for Economic Transformation.

The two-day Summit was officially opened by President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe at the Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls town.

Vice President Guy Scott is among the Nine SADC Leaders attending the Summit which ends today. 

Dr Scott is accompanied to the Summit by Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba, Commerce Minister Robert Sichinga, Senior Private Secretary in the Office of the Vice President Robert Kamalata and other senior government officials.

The Vice President is expected to return to Lusaka soon after the close of the Summit.