SADC pushes for a customs union by 2010

received “a high level of attention” at last week’s summit for heads of state in Maseru, Lesotho.
The South African minister said trade and finance ministers in the region were already discussing the modalities for the implementation of the monetary integration and were expected to deliver a report to regional leaders at the next SADC summit early next year.
But analysts and observers say economic turmoil in Zimbabwe – once the SADC’s second strongest economy after South Africa – could scuttle efforts at achieving greater economic integration in the region.
For example, Zimbabwe, in its seventh straight year of recession, has the world’s highest inflation of nearly 1 000 percent and which is forecast to rise further. But most countries within the region have succeeded in whittling down inflation to single digits.
An influx of Zimbabweans fleeing worsening economic hardships to especially South Africa and Botswana is straining social services in those countries and in some cases causing friction between Zimbabwe and its neighbours.
Besides hyperinflation, Zimbabwe’s economic crisis is also marked by shortages of fuel, electricity, essential medicines, hard cash and just about every basic survival commodity.
Critics blame the crisis on repression and wrong policies by President Robert Mugabe, in power since Zimbabwe’s 1980 independence from Britain. Mugabe denies mismanaging Zimbabwe and says the country’s troubles are because of economic sabotage by Western nations opposed to his government. – ZimOnline