The much anticipated Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Customs Union (CU) has been launched at the 13 th COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit amid controversy after member countries from East Africa requested for more time to conclude consultations.

ZANIS Reports that the Heads of State from East Africa under the guidance of Uganda President Yoweri Museveni told the summit that they were not ready to join the Union and needed more time in which to consult among themselves.

Mr. Museveni said the leaders could not commit to the CU as they haven’t concluded negotiations over the implementation of the zero tariff plan among themselves.

He also added that the absence of one member of the East Africa Community (EAC ) , Tanzania made it impossible for them to make a good decision on the matter as they wanted to move with one voice.

The outspoken Uganda leader also called on COMESA to include the development of the Central Corridor which runs from Tanzania, Kigali and Uganda to the North to South corridor as major blocks for economic development

However, Mr. Museveni urged other leaders to go ahead with the launch and requested that the EAC be given three years transition period in which to allow it conclude their consultations.

“In principal we are not against the launch of the Customs Union but want to consult further on the implementation of the zero tariff plan” He said.

And speaking during the launch, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe who is also the new COMESA chair said the reservations raised by the East African Countries will not prevent other Countries from signing the Union.

He said the leaders in COMESA have in the last five years been planning and dreaming about the launch of the CU adding that time has come for the Investors World wide to take the region seriously.

He added that COMESA boosts of a vibrant market of over 400 million people whose economic pillar currently lies on trade and Investment.

” We have talked about it, and now by launching the Customs Union, we demonstrate for all to see that we are walking the talk, we want to say it loud and clear and be heard by our stakeholders.” said a seemingly jubilant Mugabe.

COMESA also launched the Regional Payment and Settlement System (REPSS) which will facilitate the implementation of the 24 hour regional payment system for importers and exporters of goods and services within the Region.

.”We are launching the REPSS , we have a lot of support of the banks, exporters and importers and all who are involved in the production sector” He said.

He added that the exporters and importers that will be using the facility in the region , will be using two currencies, the Euro and the United States Dollars through the Central bank of Mauritius.

The launch of the COMESA CU will see member states that join the union adopting an agreed Common External Tariff (CET) to be charged to third parties. The agreed CET rates are zero percent on capital goods, zero percent on raw materials, 10 percent on intermediate goods and 25 percent on finished goods.
Others.

The policy will also determine revenue sharing amongst the union’s members.
The summit is also expected to review the various agreements entered into at the tripartite summit held in Kampala , Uganda , in October last year between COMESA, the east African Community and the Southern African Development Community.

With its 19 member states, a population of over 389 million and annual imports valued at 32 billion dollars and exports of 82 billion dollars, COMESA forms a major market place for both internal and external trading.
Since the launch of its FTA, there has been an increase of intra-COMESA trade of $734 million dollars in 1985 to $7,6 billion dollars in 2006.

The regional integration programme for COMESA member states established a Free Trade Area (FTA) in October 2000 and aimed to establish the customs union by December 2008, a monetary union by 2015 and a COMESA community by 2025.
ZANIS

SOUTHERN province Secondary School Teachers Union of Zambia (SESTUZ) chairman Collins Malambo has implored government to desist from threatening its workers and their union leaders at the district level.

Speaking in an interview yesterday, Mr. Malambo said that workers and union leaders were facing threats from some government officials over their decision to participate in the on going strike action.

The SESTUZ chairman said that the situation was very unfortunate because government had taken so long to make a decision over the matter.

He said that workers in Southern province just like other parts of the country were very much grieved and felt cheated by government.

Mr. Malambo said in 2002 an agreement was signed to honor workers with the fixed band housing allowance which was an indication that government had the capacity provide decent accommodation for its workers.

He wondered why government was failing to meet its workers demands of improved conditions of services that included minimum salary increment of 25 percent and K450 000 housing allowance respectively.

He said government’s focus must not be on threatening union leaders who represent workers but bringing development and food on the tables of its workers.

“Government must realize that it has a mammoth responsibility and workers are ready to work hard and move the country forward with improved conditions of services that would motivate them,” he said.

He also denied having called for a country wide strike as reported in the media recently but said he was merely urging people to fight for their rightful demands.

Mr.Malambo said that calling for a country wide strike was not within his jurisdiction because he was chairman for SESTUZ in Southern province and not the whole country.

The Union official said he was merely responding to a situation where some workers in Livingstone complained that others continued working despite the resolutions being made at their meetings.
ZANIS

Government says production at new Luanshya Copper Mine (LCM) under the ownership of a new investor China Non-Ferrous Meter Mining Group Corporation (NFCA) is not expected to commence immediately.

Mines and Mineral Development Minster Maxwell Mwale said NFCA will need time to mobilize before production can commence at the mining company.

He said production out of the mine is not expected until 3-6 months later because the owners Enya mined out all the developed reserves therefore the operations of concentrator are not expected to resume soon.

Mr. Mwale explained that during this period of 3-6 months the new investor will concentrate on re-engineering the concentrator and the associated infrastructure.

‘ NFCA is expected to start afresh new mining operations before it starts its production activities, he added.

He told journalists in Lusaka today, that NFCA will however re-open immediately the Baluba underground mine currently on care and maintenance .

He added that NFCA will immediately start the programme of developing the Miliashi mine which is expected to reach full production capacity in three years.

The Mines Minster said the company is also expected to employ 3000 employees and keep and run the Luanshya Mine Hospital, the Shaft and Mine Township Clinics, the Mine Trust School and Mine Sports and Social Clubs.

Mr. Mwale also disclosed that a team of government officials under the Mine Safety Department yesterday were on site to take stock of Assets as per Asset register.

He pointed out that NFCA will enter into supply and works contractors with local supplies, contractors and consultants to start the process of registration of service providers.

He stressed that the people of Luanshya are likely to benefit from the new investor as the company intends to develop a modern shopping complex and market.

Government through ZCC-IH has acquired a 25 percent stake in the new Luanshya Mine to be operated by NFCA , the subsidiary of China Non- Ferrous Metal Mining Group Corporation limited.

The stake represents a five percent increase in share holding from 15% held by the investment company in the former Luanshya mine.

ZANIS