The Southern African Development Community (SADC)

Abstract

Following the aspirations of the Front Line States to free their economies from dependency on Apartheid South Africa, an initiative was taken to establish the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC). As the years went by, the politically motivated conference was transformed into a regional community (Southern African Development Community (SADC)) wherein member states were to cooperate towards developing their economies. Impressive policies and legal instruments aimed at furthering cooperation through integration have since been developed within SADC. These have the potential of transforming the regional community into a utopia populated by industrialized economies which produce globally competitive products. However, this, has not been possible in the absence of leadership that is committed to the implementation of these policies and legal instruments. History has shown that, throughout the years, SADC has faced various economic challenges which originate from outside the region. These economic challenges have had detrimental effects on the economies of member states, even in the face of the aforesaid impressive policies and instruments. There is a need, therefore, for member states to ensure that arrangements aimed at promoting SADC regional integration are implemented and, that other means of cooperation are also considered, so as to enhance the region’s resilience to external economic shocks.