Don't allow unconstitutional change says RB

President Rupiah Banda says the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) should not to condone any unconstitutional removal of democratically elected governments. He says COMESA should condemn unlawful ouster of an elected government in Madagascar.

"Regional integration will be difficult if member countries continue to face political instability. As COMESA, we should not condone unconstitutional change of governments," Banda said.

Addressing COMESA delegates at Victoria Falls Town, Zimbabwe Banda said countries in the sub region should work through the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with the support of the international community to find a lasting solution to the Malagasy problem.

And in a resolution the COMESA summit rejected and condemned in strongest terms the unconstitutional change of government in Madagascar calling instead for the return to constitutional rule. The summit expressed deep concern for the suffering of the people of Madagascar and urged for an urgent solution to prevent the adverse social and economic implications, particularly for the ordinary people. The COMESA resolution also recognised ousted Madagascar's President Marc Ravalomanana who also was among the nine Heads of State and Government that attended the summit.

And Banda further urged COMESA not to lose sight of the negotiations with the European Union on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), which have growth implications for the East and Southern African region. He said the COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit came at a time when the world is in recession and the region is experiencing the negative impact of the global food, fuel, financial and economic crisis. He said the crisis makes developing countries more vulnerable to external shocks as they lack resources to respond adequately.

He said COMESA's export trade is still dominated by raw materials and primary goods. He said the situation is challenging in terms of creating the levels of employment and growth required to uplift people's living standards and meet the Millennium Development Goals on poverty.

The President said there is need to ensure programmes and policies that promote value addition and enhance competitive capacities continue to be a priority.
Banda said the launch of the COMESA Customs Union (CU) is an important step in deepening regional integration. He said the COMESA region stands to benefit from increased volume and variety of goods and services produced and traded in the union, leading to improvement of people's living standards.