KENYA: Zimbabwe Presiident Mugabe tells trade summit Africa should stop relying on the West

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe urges African countries to stop relying on the West as the continent's biggest trade bloc approves a common external tariff system, clearing a major hurdle for a customs union. Africa's biggest trade bloc COMESA on Wednesday (May 23) approved a common external tariff system, clearing a major hurdle for a customs union intended to boost trade. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe supported the need for African countries to work closely together for sustainable development. "While external assistance can play a supporting role, ultimately it is our own efforts that will determine whether or not we achieve real and sustainable development," Mugabe told a two-day summit of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). "In this regard, the importance of ownership of our development programmes cannot be over-emphasised. And it's not just ownership of our development programmes, it's ownership of our resources as well, of our land, of our minerals, of our forests, of our animals." To the amusement of fellow leaders and other delegates, the Zimbabwean strongman questioned from where the Europe and Britain got their raw materials. "Where does Europe get all the cotton that they wear? And the tea that the British call their own -- English tea. I have wanted to know in which part of Britain tea is grown and to this day I have not found it," Mugabe said, to applause. Under the agreement to harmonise their tax regimes, COMESA countries will pay zero tax for capital goods and raw materials, 10 percent for intermediate products and 25 percent for finished goods. The bloc, which stretches from Egypt to Zimbabwe, had yet to finalise details of a transitional period for COMESA countries to make tariff adjustments. Mugabe praised African leaders for standing by him despite criticism from the West. "That's why we are always saying to imperialists 'keep away, we are married to Africa'. Britain and Europe, you have your own territory, America, Bush, your own territory. Hands off Africa. If you are friends, come with clean hands. I want to thank you." COMESA, which represents 20 countries, urged member states who have yet to join its free trade area to sign up before the planned launch of the customs union in 2008. Giving the closing address, the host, Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki gave the date for integration. "We have reaffirmed our resolve to take our regional economic integration to the level of a customs union by December, the year 2008." he said. WR/AD

ITN Source | May 23, 2007

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