Aug. 12 (Bloomberg) -- Southern African countries will launch a free trade area on Aug. 17, when their leaders meet in Johannesburg, to boost trade and economic growth in the region.

The 14-member Southern African Development Community will publish a report at the launch of the FTA on how countries in the region have fared in cutting tariffs, South Africa's Trade Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa told reporters in Pretoria today.

South Africa takes over chairmanship of the 14-member Southern African Development Community from Zambia at a meeting of heads of states on Aug. 16. Other SADC members include Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Regional leaders will also consider a report on power- sharing talks between Zimbabwe's ruling party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said at the press conference today. There may be a ``decision'' from the negotiations before the SADC meeting begins, he added.

To contact the reporters on this story: Nasreen Seria in Johannesburg at nseria@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: August 12, 2008 08:23 EDT