From: barnhart@gagme.chi.il.us (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Subject: IPS: SOUTHERN AFRICA: SUB-REGION AFRAID OF BULLYING
Originator: barnhart@gagme
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 19:09:59 GMT

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: Third World Dvpmnt
Title: SOUTHERN AFRICA: SUB-REGION AFRAID OF BULLYING BY SOUTH AFRICA


an inter press service feature

by godfrey karoro

nyanga, zimbabwe, oct 2 (ips) -- although the integration of
south africa into the sub-region is welcome, fears abound that
it might frustrate industrial development in the less developed
southern african countries.

the sub-region's economic giant has historically played an
important role in the economies of the majority of the southern
african development community (sadc) member countries -- angola,
botswana, lesotho, malawi, mozambique, namibia, swaziland,
tanzania, zambia and zimbabwe.

despite efforts to lessen dependence on south africa, most of
the countries rely on its trade routes, communications, energy
and employment.

south africa's trade with the region has also grown
dramatically over the past decade despite anti-apartheid
sanctions.

according to the standard bank of south africa, exports to
the rest of africa grew by 250 percent between 1980 and 1990
''with a surge of activity in the second half of the decade''.

''it is obvious the acceptance of south africa into the
community of nations, and its entry into regional trading
groupings, will facilitate further south african penetration of
the region'', says zimbabwean economist mike humphrey.

the southern africa foundation for economic research (safer)
executive director also cautions that industries in sadc member
states will suffer if, as required by the economic reform
programmes, south africa is allowed to trade freely in the
region.

''there will be an influx of people into south africa to
source cheap goods, while south african investors, endowed with
capital and technology, will have a comparative advantage as we
privatise'', joshua mushauri told ips.

the state-controlled manufacturing sector in most african
countries is run inefficiently and uses obsolete equipment
producing uncompetitive commodities.

''although integration and cooperation is good, there is a
real fear and we should look at how to do it'', says mushauri,
who was among 50 delegates from southern african countries at
the third southern african business conference.

the theme of the two-day conference, held at the eastern
zimbabwe resort of nyanga, was 'business cooperation'.
(more/ips)


southern africa: sub-region (2)

aware that the emergence of the new south africa will have an
extremely significant impact within the region, the president of
the zimbabwe national chamber of commerce (zncc) warns that
south africa against undermining the development efforts of its
neighbours.

''it is not in the interests of south africa to have poor
neighbours, nor is it in the interests of the neighbouring
countries to ignore the realities of a strong trading partner in
their midst'', john torond told the third regional business
conference in this tourist resort this week.

torond believes the emergence of the non-racial democratic
south africa will act as the necessary catalyst to encourage all
countries to be more responsive to change and work together for
the benefit of the region as a whole.

humphrey, on the other hand, is optistimic that south
africa's penetration will be constrained if it does not reduce
the persistent trade surpluses with the region.

''south africa has to be careful that it does not repeat
zimbabwe's mistake of antagonising most of its regional partners
during the 1980 because of regular trade surpluses'', the
economist adds.

while all this bickering goes on, the white minority-ruled
country has not yet decided whether it will join the sadc or
the preferential trade area (pta), grouping 18 eastern and
southern african countries.

south africa has effectively used the southern african
customs union (sacu) -- botswana, lesotho, swaziland and south
africa -- and the common monetary area, which includes angola,
to penetrate the region.

''there is confusion in south africa on exactly what sadc
and pta are. until we know the roles they are supposed to play,
we have to wait'', says the deputy director-general of the south
african chamber of business (sacob), ron haywood.

allaying the region's fears, the sacob executive says the
message coming through from the international community is
of the establishment of trading blocs.

''with south africa now becoming an acceptable part of the
region, we have to work together to get stronger and show the
world we are relevant'', haywood told ips.
(end/ips/rc/gk/apc/92)