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SADC says there is 'progress' in Zimbabwe
Business Day (SA)
August 21, 2006

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A253662

MASERU — Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairman, Lesotho Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, said Zimbabwe — considered by some to be the weak link in the regional bloc’s integration aspirations — was "strengthening and the government has reversed its land seizure policy".

"The situation in that country is of concern. We have been engaged with the leadership of Zimbabwe on how best we can recover the economic viability of that country. (But) there has been progress," Mosisili said.

Economic hardships, including rampant inflation, have dogged the country since 2000. And, as an example of political instability, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe issued direct threats of state violence aimed at opposition party supporters before he left for Maseru.

But Mosisili said on Friday after a special session on Zimbabwe and Swaziland that the country was showing signs of a revival and was addressing the country’s challenges.

He also explained why Zimbabwe and Angola had not signed a protocol aimed at aligning the body’s finance and investment policies with its objectives on Friday. "Some countries first need the approval of their parliament … they will be signing because there is no doubt they are in agreement."

Mugabe attended only part of the summit sessions on Friday. However, Mosisili said nothing should be read into his absence. "President Mugabe is not a young man," he said.

Zimbabwe’s government is reviewing a land-seizure programme that saw most of the country’s white farmers stripped of their property, Lesotho’s leader said. The country’s economy is in its sixth year of recession, and its 994% inflation rate is the world’s highest.

"The Zimbabwe government is on record as inviting some of the previous white farmers to come back," Mosisili said at the conclusion of the summit.

"They are reviewing the whole question of land acquisition. Indeed there is progress."

The leaders of 12 member states, including President Thabo Mbeki, signed a finance and investment accord setting out the framework for establishing a regional monetary union by 2016.

SADC appointed a task team of finance, economic and trade ministers to look into the need among member countries to speed up the implementation of its integration agenda.

"They directed the task force to report back to an extraordinary session to be held not later than October 2006," said SADC council of ministers chairman Timothy Thahane, who is Lesotho’s finance minister.

Southern African states recommitted themselves to an economic integration plan on Friday that requires them to scrap tariffs and adopt a common currency within the next decade.

"In a globalising world, we understand the importance of negotiating together as one people," Mosisili said.

Member states maintained "unity and cohesion toward the implementation of the regional integrated strategic development plan that has laid the road map for our integrated community."

The community includes SA, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Mauritius, Angola, Swaziland and Democratic Republic of Congo.

Member states also were asked to review their membership of other regional groupings.

"It is in this light that the summit appealed to all member states to decide which regional grouping each member state wants to belong to".

The summit also deliberated on the Seychelles rejoining SADC and decided that members would deliberate the matter further.

Mosisili said discussions were continuing about the Seychelle’s financial contribution to SADC.

SADC has already written off the Seychelles’ debt of R2,6m. Sapa, Bloomberg

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