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Zim crisis to top SADC heads summit
HUMPHREY NKONDE
Correspondent
The crisis in Zimbabwe is likely to be one of the top issues at the forthcoming Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) summit of heads of state and government leaders to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 16.
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Political, economic and social happenings in Zimbabwe can be expected to take centre stage because they have the potential to impact negatively on SADC's march to the envisaged regional integration and South Africa's hosting of the FIFA 2010 World Cup finals.
At the SADC meeting of heads of state held in August last year, it was anticipated that the economy of Zimbabwe would improve and pave the way for a Customs Union and Free Trade Area. To the contrary, Zimbabwe's economy has nose-dived while unemployment has reached the 80 percent mark.
Hyperinflation and unemployment has forced Zimbabweans to migrate to neighbouring countries such as Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Zambia.It is only when problems in Zimbabwe are solved that it will be easy for the regional bloc to form a viable Customs Union and Free Trade Area.
It will be difficult to trade with Zimbabwe as a result of hyperinflation. The Zimbabwe dollar has lost value since the price of bread has reached around Z$100 billion and newspapers are selling at Z$ 3billion a copy.
The vision by SADC countries to integrate their economies will be hampered by shortage of supply and expensive energy. Except for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), all the SADC countries are load shedding, hence the decision to hike electricity tariffs.
Just 11 days before the SADC meeting, there were protests by COSATU in Johannesburg and other places over the proposed increment of electricity tariffs by 27.5 percent. The surest way of assuring the region of reliable and affordable electricity is by harmonising power generation projects.
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