LUSAKA, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa-Southern Africa (UNECA-SA) has said the prevailing political and economic instability in Zimbabwe could derail the effective launch of a regional Free Trade Area (FTA) in August this year.

    Zambia Daily Mail quoted the sub-regional office director, Jennifer Kargbo, as saying here Sunday that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has therefore planned measures to ensure that the FTA launch is not derailed by the situation in Zimbabwe.

    She said there was need to keep the faith to ensure that the launch succeeds because the FTA could balance the food deficit and surplus among member states.

    She was speaking ahead of a meeting of senior policy makers and experts from southern Africa.

    The meeting, which is part of the annual intergovernmental committee of experts of the ECA-SA, starts here Monday.

    The theme of the meeting is "Achieving Free Trade Area and Customs Union: Emerging challenges and opportunities for Southern Africa."