The Tripartite Sectoral Ministerial Committee for Trade, Customs, Finance, Economic Matters and Home/Internal Affairs has approved guidelines to facilitate the safe mass movement of persons and personal goods across the region while mitigating the spread of COVID-19.

The guidelines will subsequently be tabled before the next meeting of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Council of Ministers, planned to take place by June this year,  for final approval and adoption.

In their 1st Extra-ordinary Tripartite Sectoral Meeting with Ministers responsible for health held on Thursday 4th March 2021, the committee reviewed the draft guidelines which are built upon the principles adopted in July 2020 by the Council on cross-border movement of goods and services during the COVID-19 pandemic. These will be henceforth be harmonized with the national guidelines for smooth re-opening of air, land and sea borders for mass movement of persons and personal goods within the three regional blocs.

Based on health analysis and epidemiological situation of respective Member / Partner States and countries across the globe, the Ministers agreed to ease and remove the current suspension and restrictions on the cross border (inter-state) movement.

They further agreed: “The movement of people should resume through a process whereby Member/Partner States mutually negotiate agreements between / among themselves based on inter-alia similar COVID-19 epidemiological situation.”

Speaking during the official opening, Chairperson of the Tripartite Sectoral Ministerial Committee, who is also the Malawian Minister for Health, Hon. Khumbize Chiponda urged the Member/Partner States to ensure that they  domesticate the tripartite guidelines and align them to national guidelines to achieve the desired objectives.

This is the only way that the region shall realize the benefits that shall come with the development of the COVID guidelines as this will result in normalization of economic activities amidst the pandemic,” Minister Chiponda said.

Chairperson of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Taskforce, Dr. Stergomena Tax, called for the speedy harmonization of policies that have been formulated during the COVID era to create an enabling environment for economic development.

“May I appeal that we focus on a bigger picture, so as to reach consensus on pending issues, and in doing so facilitate safe environment for economic activities and trade, and as such, tripartite integration which are very critical to the creation of jobs and wealth, and the enhancement of standards of living of our citizens,” Dr Tax who is the SADC Executive Secretary said.

Some of the areas, she said require uniformity includes the type of tests and protocols to be used for drivers and crews. These needs to consider efficiency and turnaround time for results and the need for mutual recognition of test results and validity period, so as to contain the spread of COVID-19, and to avoid repeated testing as much as possible.

The Ministers’ meeting was preceded by that of the tripartite senior officials for trade customs, finance, economic matters and home/internal affairs.