Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata in VICTORIA FALLS
The 44th Session of the Committee of Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has begun in Victoria Falls, with senior legal officials from across the 16-member regional bloc gathering to deliberate on key legal reforms aimed at deepening regional integration and facilitating trade.
The meeting, which runs from June 1 to 4, has brought together legal experts from member states ahead of the ministerial session scheduled for June 5.
Among the major issues expected to dominate discussions are the re-operationalisation of the SADC Tribunal, amendments to the SADC Treaty, the establishment of a regional tourism UNIVISA and the harmonisation of legal frameworks to support regional economic integration.
The legal experts will scrutinise several draft legal instruments and policy proposals before forwarding recommendations to ministers and attorneys general.
The ministers will later consider recommendations on the Draft Agreement Amending the SADC Treaty, the Draft Charter Establishing the SADC Pharmaceuticals Pooled Procurement Services and the Draft Agreement Establishing the SADC Tourism UNIVISA.
Recommendations from the meeting will be submitted to the SADC Council of Ministers and ultimately the Summit of Heads of State and Government for consideration and adoption.
