Africa-Press – Lesotho. The 6th Summit of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Heads of State or Government has appointed the Kingdom of Lesotho the Chair of SACU, effective 15 July 2018 to 14 July 2019, taking over from the Republic of Botswana.
This is according to SACU communiqué dated 29th June. The Summit was held on Friday, 29th June 2018 in Gaborone, Republic of Botswana. It stated that the Heads of State commended His Excellency Mr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, for the able leadership and guidance rendered during his term.
In the same vein, the Heads of State congratulated the Right Honourable Dr. Thomas Motsoahae Thabane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho, on assuming the Chair of SACU. In a vote of thanks, Thabane thanked SACU Member States for affording Lesotho to be the next chair of SACU.
“We are looking forward to working tirelessly and closely with you to ensure a timely implementation of all activities that are planned in the context of SACU work programme, during our tenure.
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He said it was important for Lesotho that SACU vigorously continue to pursue and implement programmes that would deepen SACU’s integration agenda and thereby achieve the noble goals of industrialization, further development of SACU economies and ultimately bring about changes that will impact the lives of citizens positively.
Thabane said he was pleased with the establishment of a regional financing mechanism for SACU-wide infrastructure projects and industrialization and infrastructural projects.
He said: “we pledge our commitment to build on these achievements, in order to move our region to the next level. ” The Prime Minister also extended an invitation to the leaders and their first ladies to participate in a cancer conference to be held in Lesotho on the 22 to 25 July, 2018.
The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is a customs union to five countries of Southern Africa: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. Its headquarters are in the Namibian capital, Windhoek.
The Summit was chaired by His Excellency, Mr Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana, and was attended by His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini, His Excellency Dr.
Hage Gottfried Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, His Excellency Mr Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, and the Right Honourable Dr. Thomas Motsoahae Thabane, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Lesotho.
