“The concept of Intra-SADC debt (Southern Africa Development Community) is defined in this policy brief as any bilateral or multilateral financial lending and borrowing between or among SADC member countries and their development banks. The loans discussed in this policy brief have not been contracted in a transparent and inclusive way. The media in member countries did play a critical role in exposing the secrecy around loan negotiations and agreements between member countries concerned. Official public disclosure of information on the lending and borrowing processes in the region is absent. Moreover official information on the use of borrowed funds and loan contracts is not easily accessible. Information on loan agreements among SADC member countries should be accessible and available to the regional citizens in order for them to play an important oversight role.”
