‎Harare, (New Ziana) – The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has expressed deep concern over persistently low levels of trade among its member states, with trade volumes heavily skewed in favour of countries and regions outside the bloc.

‎In an interview on the sidelines of the ongoing 34th Committee of Ministers of Trade and the 24th Ministerial Taskforce on Regional Economic Integration in Mt Hampden, Ambassador Albert Chimbindi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, said the current intra-SADC trade stands at a mere 19 percent, while a staggering 81 percent of trade occurs with nations outside the region.

‎”Yesterday (Tuesday) we spent the whole day talking about trade for the simple reason that when we looked at the figures, we realised that SADC trades more with external partners than within itself.

‎That is a matter of serious concern, especially in light of the current global economic turbulences,” Chimbindi said.

‎He noted that SADC lags behind other regions in terms of internal trade integration, an issue that undermines the bloc’s vision of economic self-sufficiency and resilience.

‎The four-day high-level meeting in Mt Hampden has brought together trade officials and ministers from across the SADC region to review trade strategies, tackle barriers, and strengthen regional cooperation.

‎Recommendations discussed at the technical level are expected to be presented to ministers for adoption on Thursday.

‎Chimbindi highlighted that the discussions have also delved into long-standing structural issues hampering trade within the region, including non-tariff barriers, inefficient transport systems, and delays at border posts.

‎”Our economies were historically structured to serve external markets. As a result, many countries in the region remain unaware of the products and services their neighbours offer.

‎It’s ironic that some of the goods we import from distant countries are actually produced right here in the region,” said Chimbindi.

‎The issue of industrialisation also featured prominently in the discussions, with delegates revisiting the 2024 SADC Summit held in Zimbabwe, where the theme centred on leveraging the region’s rich natural resources for value addition and beneficiation.

‎Chimbindi stressed the importance of aligning trade policies with industrialisation goals to ensure that the region’s mineral wealth benefits its own people, not just external markets.

‎”SADC is rich in minerals and natural resources that are in high demand globally. It is imperative that we implement policies that promote local value chains and beneficiation, so that our people derive the full benefit of what our region offers,” he said.

‎As SADC moves forward, strengthening intra-regional trade is being positioned as a cornerstone of its economic development agenda.

‎The deliberations in Mt Hampden are seen as a critical step towards realigning the region’s trade strategy and enhancing its capacity to thrive within the framework of both the SADC Free Trade Area and the broader African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

New Ziana

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