-The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has praised member states for their commitment and leadership in the development of legislations and policies that have contributed in advancing regional integration in the 21 countries.
COMESA Secretary General Chileshe Kapwepwe, says the commitment by countries to legal instruments processes have helped COMESA, institutions, agencies and the secretariat to effectively execute their mandate in the promotion of economic, political and social integration.
ZANIS reports Ms Kapwepwe was speaking in Lusaka today during the official opening of the 27th meeting for COMESA Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General that has attracted representation from all the 21 member states.
She explained that the meeting is being held at a time when the African Continental Free Trade Area and the COMESA-EAC-SADC tripartite free trade area have gone into effect.
She said this is why it is vital for COMESA countries to provide guidance and develop policies that will steer enhanced integration of the region for the benefit of all member states.
Ms Kapwepwe however, expressed concern that despite a number of legal instruments having been concluded, many countries have still not domesticated them at member state level.
She has since called for the acceleration of the domestication of all concluded instruments that have been adopted over the years.
Minister of Justice Princess Kasune, noted that sluggish signing and ratification of community legal instruments has hampered efforts to advance programmes for regional integration as it prevents member states from unlocking benefits and potential embedded in those legal instruments.
Ms Kasune stated that it is important that COMESA member states ratify and domestics all legal instruments and decisions that require domestication at national level for effective regional integration.
She added that as the region makes progress in integration, it is critical that they prioritise industrialisation as a vital component of a country’s trade strategy as it has potential to provide economic advantages such as job creation through increased intra-regional commerce.
Earlier, COMESA Court of Justice president Lombe Chibesakunda, noted that the situation in Sudan where the seat of the court is located has affected the operations of the court.
Justice Chibesakunda however, stated that the court has remained steadfast and resilient in upholding the rule of law and providing prompt and transparent determination of disputes through the highest standards of administrative performance and judicial excellence.
