Sunday, August 29, 2010

Zimbabwe President Mugabe In Swaziland for COMESA Summit

President off to Comesa summit

Herald Reporter

PRESIDENT Mugabe left for Swaziland yesterday to attend the 14th Heads of State and Government Summit for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, which will be held in the Kingdom of Swaziland.

The summit will take place from tomorrow to September 1.

The President was seen off at the Harare International Airport by Service Chiefs, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, State Security Minister Sydney Sekeramayi, Media, Information and Publicity Minister Webster Shamu and Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister Herbert Murerwa.

He was accompanied by Senior Government officials.

Vice President Joice Mujuru will be the Acting President.

The summit was preceded by other Policy Organ meetings at technical, senior officials and ministerial level including the Business Forum and the 28th meeting of the Council of Ministers that was held from 25th to 27th August.

During this Summit, the Kingdom of Swaziland will take over the Chairmanship of Comesa from Zimbabwe who successfully hosted the summit in Victoria Falls last year.

King Mswati III will chair the Comesa Authority until the next summit to be held next year at a date to be agreed upon.

The summit will discuss among other things, developments in the regional integration agenda, including progress towards the full implementation of the Comesa Customs Union, the tripartite cooperation between Comesa-EAC and Sadc and how the region can enhance the utilisation of science and technology for the betterment of its people.

All the 19 Comesa member-states are expected to be represented at senior level.

The summit will be held around important national events on the Swaziland calendar such as the Annual Reed Dance locally-known as Umhlanga, which will be held today.

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