afrol News, 5 June - At least five African Heads of State have confirmed their attendance for the Word Economic Forum (WEF) which kicks off in in Cape Town, South Africa next week.

According to media reports, WEF has confirmed that Presidents Jacob Zuma of South Africa, Kenya's Raila Odinga, Lesotho's Pakalitha Mosisili, Rwanda's Paul Kagame and Zambia's Rupiah Banda, have all confirmed their participation.

According to the WEF some 800 participants from 50 countries will be taking part at the forum, aimed providing a platform for world leaders to address and exchange views on the responses to the global financial crisis.

The forum is also expected to draw a roadmap for Africa's future post the challenging economic and climate changes.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) are meeting in the tourism town of Zimbabwe, Victoria falls at the weeked to look into the challenges facing the region amidst the looming and threatening crisis.

The leaders are coming together with already a strong message that conflicts in the region are delaying any moves towards efforts of integration.

COMESA secretary general Sindiso Ngwenya told the forum that, "The lack of a forum for dialogue to address conflicts was a gap that was hindering our progress in economic integration."

Speaking ahead of a heads of state summit, the Secretary General also advised that as the region addresses the conflicts, it should not be fully consumed and lose focus on the road ahead.

COMESA is also expected to launch the continent's biggest customs union this weekend, which will harmonise tariffs across a region that stretches from Egypt to South Africa.

COMESA comprises Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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