Abstract
This article examines and analyses the challenges faced by Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states while implementing the organisation’s Trade Protocol, which it adopted in 1996 to increase intra-regional trade. The focus is on member states who have signed and ratified the Protocol but struggle to honour it. This means that the SADC member states that have not acceded to the Protocol are not the subject of analysis. While several studies have been undertaken to explore regional economic integration in SADC, the challenges emanating from the domestic circumstances faced by members within the context of regional integration have not been properly examined. This article argues that the failure of some member states, including Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Angola, to honour their commitments to the Trade Protocol is not unjustifiable; however, there must be a willingness to make certain concessions for the region’s intra-trade agenda to be a success. This article adopted a qualitative approach as it poses an exploratory question. The sources used include SADC documents, World Bank reports (on gross domestic product and World Development Indicators), and publications, including policies, protocols, communiques, statements, books, and journal and newspaper articles.
Published Version
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