The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has sharply chastised bilateral trade pact between the European Union (EU) and the Southern African Development Community states.
We have to be outspoken about our attack because the EU concept of economic partnership agreements with some SADC states is “counterproductive and dangerous†for it has employment implications in the country.
Numsa central committee took a principled stand at the weekend to reject the bilateral trade deals as it split the SADC region. The rift caused is in line with EU imperialist global strategy which expressed EU interest in the South African economy.
The union strongly opposed and branded it as “divide and rule†strategy which sought to isolate South African within SADC countries.
Numsa further welcomed Namibian and South African governments’ refusal to sign bilateral economic partnerships as they undermine their right to sovereignty and self-determination.
EU demands were unreasonable in that these have the potential to undermine South Africa’s industrial development objectives and attempt to win what has been lost in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations.
Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland had conceded to European Commission’s demands and signed the deal despite the fact that EU demands would put tedious obligations on SADC countries
For further information contact:
Mziwakhe Hlangani, Numsa national spokesperson
Cell phone: 082 9407116
E-mail : mziwakheh@numsa.org.za
Source
Numsa Press Releases