Zuma in Lesotho for consultations on SACU

South African President Jacob Zuma arrived in Lesotho on Thursday for consultations on the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), the Presidency said.

The consultations are a follow up to the discussions held by the SACU Heads of State and Government during the inauguration of the new SACU Headquarters in Windhoek, Namibia, on November 12, 2015.

The discussions will focus on progress in the implementation of the SACU work programme as adopted by the 2011 SACU Summit, presidential spokesperson Bongani Ngqulunga said.

The deliberations will also consider regional, continental and global economic and trade developments and their impact on SACU, said Ngqulunga.

Zuma have travelled to Botswana, Namibia and Swaziland between April 18-21 for similar consultations on SACU.

Established 105 years ago, SACU is one of the oldest customs unions in the world, consisting of five members, namely Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland.

During the visit to Lesotho, President Zuma is scheduled to meet King Letsie III as well as Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili, to discuss the important regional and global issues of mutual concern and further strengthen and consolidate the strategic and historical bilateral relations between the two countries.

Zuma, who is the current Chair of the SACU Summit, is accompanied by Maite Nkoana Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation; Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry and Pravin Gordhan, Minister of Finance. Endit