By A Correspondent- In June last year, Government said it would fully implement the AfCFTA after 15 years when the country is expected to have fully industrialised.

Zimbabwe is a member of G6 countries, a grouping that supports AfCFTA, but argues they face specific development challenges. Other members are Ethiopia, Madagascar, Malawi, Sudan and Zambia.

Zimbabwe yesterday officially joined the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) despite outstanding issues “in the spirit of moving forward and our commitment to the principles that inspired the establishment of the AfCTA”, Mnangagwa said.

In his address at a closed session of the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), Mnangagwa announced that Zimbabwe was now on board.

“I would equally like to thank President Issoufou, the champion of the AfCFTA, for his dedication and commitment to ensuring the implementation of the free trade area. Zimbabwe is cognisant that the AfCFTA is one of our Agenda 2063 flagship projects which has its success anchored on the commitment and political will of member states.

“We are also aware that challenges relating to implementation modalities will need to be addressed if we are to achieve the desired outcomes.

“Subsequently, however, in the spirit of moving forward and our commitment to the principles that inspired the establishment of the AfCTA, we are prepared to move on the basis of the agreed collective position,” he said.

“Therefore, Zimbabwe is now on board.” Earlier, President Mnangagwa had explained that Zimbabwe’s participation in the AfCFTA had been hampered by sanctions. He was speaking to journalists after meeting President Abdelmadjid Tebboune of Algeria on the sidelines of the summit.

-Statemedia