United States of Africa talks continue

THE DEBATE on a United States of Africa is set to continue at the SADC meeting scheduled to begin in Lusaka, Zambia, tomorrow.

In a statement released yesterday, the Foreign Affairs ministry said the SADC (Southern African Development Community) Council of Ministers would discuss a report on regional economic integration.

The idea of a United States of Africa caused major splits during the African Union summit held in Ghana earlier this year.

Libyan President Muammar Gadhaffi pushed for the creation of a confederation of states, with a union government that would replace the exiting African Union commission.

This government would draw up common foreign and defence policies and ease trade barriers on the continent.

South Africa and other key players want the existing AU structure to be given time to mature.

The implications of the outcomes of the AU summit on the SADC would also be discussed in Lusaka.

“In this vein a report on continental integration including the African Union and Nepad (New Partnership for Africa’s Development) and inter-regional integration will be presented to Council,” Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

The political situation in Zimbabwe, Lesotho and the Democratic Republic of Congo would also be discussed.

Among the other issues that would be up for discussion would be the proposed launch of the SADC Brigade and the Integrated Committee of Ministers (ICM).

The ICM would target trade, industry, finance and investment; infrastructure development, the water sector, food, agriculture and national resources and human development and special programmes.

Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was to leave for Lusaka yesterday. — Sapa