The Prime Minister Hon Samuel Matekane will participate in the meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) scheduled to take place in Eswatini on Thursday. Speaking in an interview with the Agency, the Press Attaché Prime Minister’s Office Mr. Thapelo Mabote explained that the summit will amongst others reflect on strategic issues and provide guidance to the Council of Ministers on the implementation of the SACU Agenda. He indicated that the Heads of State or Government will receive an update from the Council of Ministers on the status of implementation of the SACU Work Programme, which is hinged on the SACU Strategic Plan.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mabote said Lesotho is next in line to hold the summit after Eswatini and will be assuming the Chairmanship in July 2023. Article 7A (5) of the SACU Agreement 2002 provides that the SACU Summit shall meet at least once in a year and may hold extraordinary meetings at the request of any member. The Chairmanship of SACU is a simple rotation by Member States in alphabetical order. Southern African Customs Union (SACU), an African regional economic organization, is the world's oldest customs union, founded in 1910. Its members include Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, and Eswatini.

The five member states maintain a common external tariff, share customs revenues and coordinate policies and decision-making on a wide range of trade issues. The Prime Minister’s delegation will include the Minister of Finance and Development Planning Dr. Rets’elisitsoe Matlanyane, Minister of Trade, Industry, Business Development and Tourism Mr. Mokhethi Shelile and Senior Government Officials.