Zimbabwe's Mugabe launches new African trade agreement

The veteran leader took over as chairman of the continent's largest trade bloc — home to 400 million people stretching from the southern Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean — and opened the customs union within their borders.

"Our message to investors worldwide and to those of our region is clear: We have a regional market for you, come to COMESA," said the 85-year-old Zimbabwe president, referring to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.

"To the whole world, we want to say... that we are serious as a region."

With a combined gross domestic product of US$360 billion (255 billion euros), COMESA's members range from oil or tourist hotspots to some of the world's poorest and most conflict-torn nations.

The bloc comprises: Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Most have lifted visa restrictions on travel within the bloc.

Speaking as once-prosperous Zimbabwe seeks to emerge from economic meltdown and political turmoil, Mugabe earlier urged leaders to stamp out violence and "make Africa a continent of opportunity for all its people."

"You certainly agree with me that conflict is a serious cancer in our region and indeed many parts of Africa," Mugabe told a summit of members in a Zimbabwe resort.

"Strife has made us lose valuable manpower through death and displacement of people. It has also adversely affected our economies in regard to productivity and prosperity."

Sudan's President Omar al-Beshir, who faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes in Darfur, was among the audience.

Just 10 years ago, nearly half of COMESA members were embroiled in the Democratic Republic of Congo's conflict.

Sudan remains in civil war, while Madagascar' elected leader, Marc Ravalomanana who is at the summit, was toppled in March.

As well as simplifying trade, COMESA hopes the customs union -- which sees all 19 countries impose the same tariffs on goods from outside the region -- will strengthen integration and eventually lead to a single currency.

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