SADC must avoid expansionism

Madagascar’s coming on board has been expected for decades. At some point, the island state was even courted by SADC. Now, with the opening created by the pulling out of Seychelles, another island nation, it is only natural for Madagascar to join.

Prior to Seychelles’ pulling out last year, there was a moratorium on the admission of new members because the regional economic block needed time for consolidation.

The period of consolidation should be maintained if SADC is to make meaningful progress in the regional integration process.

It is critical that the membership be maintained at 14 - member states for now. Since Madagascar applied first, it can be admitted to fill in the gap left by Seychelles. The size of a regional organisation has a direct bearing on its overall effectiveness.

The effectiveness of such large heterogeneous blocs as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has not been proven.

SADC member states should avoid multiple memberships in the economic blocs with similar agendas. This arrangement has a tendency of unnecessarily stretching members’ financial obligations and allegiances.

It is in this light that, the SADC summit would be ill-advised to admit Rwanda. States should be encouraged to form strong regional economic blocs.

Instead of clamouring for SADC membership, states in other parts of the continent must replicate the SADC model in their regions. It is on the success of these blocs that the African Union will be built.

It would be an indictment on the current generation of SADC leaders if the summit does not move to resolve the Zimbabwe crisis. As a matter of urgency, this summit must be blunt with Robert Mugabe and impress upon him on the need to speedily resolve the crisis that has brought untold suffering to many Zimbabweans.

Today’s Thought

One of the basic causes for all the trouble in the world today is that people talk too much and think too little.

- Margaret Chase Smith

When they meet today and tomorrow, the SADC heads of state and government will, among other things, consider membership applications of Madagascar and Rwanda. There is always a temptation to welcome growth. After all, growth is often a positive development.

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