He called on the Executive Council to allocate funds for the Secretariat to continue recruitment, emphasising the need to review the function and scope of several directorates within AfCFTA.

He said the division of dispute settlement must be properly staffed so that it adequately supports the Appellate Body.

“These operational realignments are consistent with the general theme of both the Institutional Assessment and the 10-year Strategic Plan, in so far as they relate to the fit-for-purposefulness of the AfCFTA Secretariat,” he said.

He therefore proposed the reassignment of some of the functions of the directorate to enable operational focus and efficiency.

It is further noted that the position of Deputy Secretary-General must be provided with oversight responsibility for overall coordination.

“The division of conferencing is not staffed at all; this is a critical function that enables the smooth running of our meetings, and it urgently requires to be streamlined to enable operation efficiency and programmatic focus, “he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Mene said that trading under the AfCFTA regime is progressively taking shape, largely due to its leadership and unwavering determination.

“A clear indicator of this progress is the increasing number of countries showing keen interest in joining the Guided Trade Initiative this year. The launch of this initiative by various countries marks a significant milestone for Member States in the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement. It underscores the commitment to actualizing the potential of the agreement,” he said.

Meanwhile, the minister for Industry and Trade, Dr Ashatu Kijaji, said that discussions on the AfCFTA have been concluded, except for a few areas that will be finalised shortly, so that they can focus all their efforts on implementation.

“I would like to emphasise that Africa will be built by Africans ourselves. Therefore, we must ensure that we oversee the full implementation of all the agreements reached in our negotiations. I see the AfCFTA as the singular opportunity to strengthen trade and production by effectively utilising Africa’s resources, including those abundant in the blue economy here in Zanzibar,” she stated.

She invited traders and investors from Africa and beyond to invest in the various opportunities afforded in Tanzania.

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