COMESA calls for effective advance of integration policies

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

MEMBER states of the Common Markets for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) have an opportunity to develop policies that will advance integration within the trading bloc following a Tripartite Free Trade Area agreement which recently came into effect.
In reference to the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) Agreement, the bloc’s Secretary-General, Ms Chileshe Kapwepwe, expressed optimism on further integration.
The TFTA agreement came into force on July 25, 2024 following the attainment of the required threshold.
Additionally, Ms Kapwepwe said the African Continental Free Trade Area which was equally in effect also presented more opportunities for development of the required policies.
She was speaking yesterday in Lusaka at the 27th meeting of COMESA Ministers of Justice and Attorney Generals.
“Your meeting is being held at a historic moment when the African Continental Free Trade Area is in effect and also the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) which has just gone into effect.
“This heralds an opportune time for COMESA through your guidance to develop policies and community legislation that will steer COMESA member states closer towards a deeper and eider integration of the COMESA region,” Ms Kapwepwe said.
She also talked about the status of the many legal instruments that had been concluded by COMESA over the years.
Ms Kapwepwe recalled that COMESA had concluded several legal instruments, which she said still remained with respect to their domestication at the member state level.
“May I therefore appeal to you to work closely with the legal and corporate affairs division to reflect on how best we can accelerate the domestication of instruments that have been adopted over the years,” she said
Her remarks were backed by Justice Minister, Princess Kasune Zulu who urged COMESA member states to ensure that all legal instruments ad decisions that required domestication at national level, or ratification were done accordingly.
Ms Zulu underscored that member states could only successfully implement COMESA programmes when they all domesticated the instruments at national level.
“Let me bring to your attention, an issue that concerns both the secretariat and all of us. COMESA has over the years passed numerous legal instruments and protocols which regrettably have still not yet been domesticated at national level by some member states.
“The slow signing and ratification of the community legal instruments is unfortunately hampering efforts to advance the programme of integrating the COMESA region,” she said.
Meanwhile, COMESA Court of Justice president, Lombe Chibesakunda raised concerns at the current conflict happening in Sudan, where the court was located.
Justice Chibesakunda regretted that the situation had seriously affected the operations of the court.
She, however, mentioned that the court had remained steadfast and resilient in upholding the rule of law and provided prompt and transparent determination of disputes through highest standards.
“…although the court registry has temporarily relocated to Zambia due to the current situation at the Seat, it is our hope that Sudan will return to a peaceful state soon and that its people can eventually return to their homes,” she said.