“The Southern African Development Community (SADC) counts among its 15 member states the region’s richest country (South Africa) as well as some of its poorest; landlocked as well as
island states; and states with some of the largest populations in Africa (the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)) as well as some of the smallest (Seychelles).
As a SADC member, Zimbabwe would expect to benefit from stronger socio-economic and
political ties in the region, including free movement of people and goods across international borders and regional assistance in times of need. But regionalization can also create
dilemmas for member states, as when issues touch on questions of national sovereignty. “
