The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has long harboured the dream of regional integration, a vision of open borders and free movement of people.
However, this dream remains largely unfulfilled, confined to policy papers and diplomatic rhetoric.
The stark reality on the ground reveals that economic, political, and security differences among member states are significant barriers to this noble aspiration.
A recent incident in Botswana’s parliament perfectly illustrates this dichotomy. A proposal for the removal of passports for citizens of Botswana and Zimbabwe was shot down by Gaborone lawmakers last week, highlighting the stark contrast between policy and practice.
The proposal would have seen citizens of both countries use national identity cards instead of passports at entry points.
Interestingly, a similar arrangement between Botswana and Namibia has been in existence since February 2023 and was easily accepted by lawmakers in both countries.
This disparity underscores the influence of national circumstances on regional decisions.
Harare-based political analyst Donald Porusingazi said Zimbabwe’s ongoing political and economic challenges played a crucial role in Botswana’s reluctance to ease travel restrictions.
“Despite being part of the same regional bloc, the perceived risk associated with Zimbabwe’s instability was deemed too high, resulting in Botswana’s parliament shooting down the proposal,” Porusingazi said.
Disgruntled Zimbabweans are leaving the country in droves to escape rising prices of commodities as well as high unemployment, among other push factors.
This incident raises questions about the feasibility of regional integration in the face of divergent national conditions.
Porusingazi noted that while SADC leaders’ intentions to open up borders are undoubtedly noble, the reality in the region was not conducive for such a move.
“The integration of the SADC region, while desirable, requires more than just political will. It necessitates a harmonious alignment of economic stability, political synergy, and security assurance among member states,” he said.
What needs to be done to facilitate the free movement of persons across the region?
“First, there needs to be a concerted effort to address the economic disparities among member states. Economic stability is a prerequisite for any form of integration,” the analyst said.
He added: “Second, political harmony and good governance should be promoted to ensure a stable and secure environment.”
This would also call for SADC member states to collectively address security concerns in countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho and Mozambique to ensure the safety and security of citizens.
Only then can the dream of free movement and open borders in the SADC region move from paper to practice.
