SACU's supreme organ, the Council of Ministers, is expected to make a decision on a draft review of the revenue-sharing mechanism in April. Among others, the draft proposes an P8 billion reduction in Botswana's share of customs revenues by 2019, arguing that there is no justification for the amount the country presently receives. At last Friday's meeting, the five heads of state outlined the targets of the union, prioritising the revenue-sharing debate that will be at the top of the agenda at the Council of Ministers meeting. Acting Vice President, Ponatshego Kedikilwe, represented Botswana at the Pretoria Summit.
A communiqu issued after the Summit reads: "The Summit endorsed five priority areas in SACU's work programme focusing on regional industrial development policy, review of the revenue-sharing arrangement, trade facilitation and development of SACU institutions. The Summit also endorsed unified engagement in trade negotiations and agreed that the outstanding priority areas will be addressed in due course."
