President Edgar Lungu says Zambia did not sign the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as the country still conducting internal negotiations on some protocols in the agreement.
Writing on his Facebook page, President Lungu said Foreign Affairs Minister Joseph Malanji, signed the African Free Trade Area Declaration and not the Agreement because negotiations on some of the protocols of the agreement proposed by Zambia were still on going.
“Zambia had negotiated the protocol on Goods, and Services and the dispute settlement mechanism. The remaining protocols that included Protocol on Trade competition, protocol on Investment and the intellectual property were yet to be negotiated,” President Lungu said.
“You may wish to note that the signing of this declaration shows that Zambia stands with all other African Nations in its quest to improve intra Africa Trade. This agreement will have positive benefits to the Zambian people especially the Youth and Women,” he said.
On Wednesday, 44 African countries signed the agreement to launch the AfCFTA during an extraordinary summit of the AU in Kigali, Rwanda.
And Mr Malanji, said Zambia only signed the African Free Trade Area Declaration and not the agreement.
He however, said the signing of the declaration shows that Zambia stands with all other African countries in the quest to improve intra-Africa trade.
Meanwhile, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Christopher Yaluma, said in the same statement that Zambia would not sign the protocol on the free movement of people as the country was not ready for it.
He said the government would only engage in treaties that had a positive bearing on Zambian people especially the youth and women.
Others who have not signed are South Africa and Nigeria including Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Burundi, Eritrea, Benin, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau.
The project needed a minimum of 22 countries signing up to get off the ground and Rwanda President Paul Kagame hailed the effort so far.
“What is at stake is the dignity and wellbeing of Africa’s farmers, workers and entrepre-neurs,” he said.
“Some countries have reservations and have not finalised their national consultations. But we shall have another summit in Mauritania in July where we expect countries with reservations to also sign,” Albert Muchanga, the AU commissioner for trade and industry, told AFP.
“They are still doing national-level consultations and so when they finish they will be able to come on board but we shall have another summit in Mauritania in July where we expect countries with reservations to also sign,” he said.
Bloomberg reported that President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, which together with South Africa makes up half of Africa’s gross domestic product, canceled his trip to Kigali, saying his government needs more time for input from local businesses before he can sign the pact.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni also called off his travels to neighboring Rwanda, the Nairobi-based East African newspaper reported on Monday, according to Bloomberg.
“It would have been great if the two biggest economies on the continent, Nigeria and SA, had signed, but the most important is that the rest of the continent is sending a right message to these two biggest economies that we are moving ahead without you,” said Michael Kottoh, an analyst at Confidential Strategies in Ghana.
The decision to form the AfCFTA was adopted in January 2012 during the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU while negotiations were launched by the AU in 2015.
The AfCFTA was aimed at creating a single continental market for goods and services with free movement of businesses and investments.
According to the AU, this will pave the way for the establishment of the Continental Customs Union and the African Customs Union.
The AfCFTA could create an Africa market of over 1.2 billion people with a GDP of 2.5 trillion dollars.
The agreement, after being signed, will be submitted for ratification by state parties before it can enter into force.
So you signed the documents and today change your mind. You are chimbwi no plan
Dont mind them everything is shambolic with these empty tins!!
Let’s finalise impeachment issues first. Don’t do anything for now on this Free trade thing, others that may come in may have a different view.
This of signing things for ceremony sake will cost someone impeachment indeed, we are tired of helping these PF.
Even own famous People’s Constitution, was signed a wrong version. The actual “final” document came later.
This is a baby who should have been named while still in the mother’s womb. Now, the baby is born and you are yet to buy nappies? How serious is this government?
But it was already signed …what is this according to BR Mumba this is the smart man. 🙁
What is there to Negotiate, apart from Copper which you have Given to Foreign Companies and You have no Control on the proceeds??? We and a Consuming country not producing Economy. No industries to Protect. Even vegetables come from South Africa. That’s what Happens with lazy Leaders who cannot even plant a sweet potato. All they Know is stealing and talk nonsense.
read article did you do comprehension?
So whats that tin in the photo signing eh? Guest Book?
If I were a PF member, I would be crying everyday. God, why is ours a failed project. Nothing is working for us. No money in people’s pockets, njala pa mimba
Don’t worry , wait nearer 2021 and lungu will reduce taxes to reduce njala pa mimba and ask you to dance
You are paying for those reduction pre 2016 elections…the cycle of stupidity still goes on!!
I am a Kabushi resident in Ndola. I have no job and no food and then ichimuntu instead of fighting for me, all he can say is that he is a bootlicker.
Kaili you voted for him so he can become a boot licker. He has fulfilled his promise.
Vote wisley next time…..pf are shamless thieves , they have no shame.
jobless@ if you are broke as you say you are why are you wasting money on internet data????instead of buying food
Impeachment ilenda shani uko? Expedite, please. Twachula pafula
Blind leaders at a curve. They must feel their way around it, just so they don’t fall into a ditch.
Sounds like a very logical approach to ensure our interests are protected
Well stated. We just can’t jump in head and buttocks first. The Richer nations benefit more.
…OK, we need to study the continental free trade area and yet it was spearheaded by a Zambian in the AU. .. So it means he did not brief his country
Just sign it , when did zambians start reading before signing? DORA signed sale of comunication towers and zamtel never read the document and ECL signed evacuation for CK never read the implications, ECL refused to hand over power to the speaker Zambians never read the implications. AFRICANS dont read , a whte man said if u want to hide anything from a black man put it in writing
This is a correct position by government. What ECL is saying is that Zambia agrees in principle , that is , with the concept. But details need to be worked out of how exactly to proceed. How can you sign for free movement of people when so many of your own are surviving by selling in streets and at traffic lights? And even then these spots for street selling are not even enough? If a Nigerian cam here to sell in streets you would not ask them to leave if such an agreement was signed. I support govt position on this one.
I recall then Attorney General Malila advising one Dora wa Katete not to sign the agreement because it was a NULLITY! Dora read it Luke she was broadcasting news on then ZNBC and signed it? In court, a lawyer noticed the girl didn’t just read to understand but also her grasp of “nullity” was in Nsenga meaning “since when”. Ubukopo Dora wa Katete, over over!
Dora isn’t a chikopo. She is a smart girl but she has other weaknesses.