South Africa's founding democratic elections in 1994 were the culmination of efforts of South Africans and their friends in Zimbabwe and further afield. The struggle for liberation and democracy, however, was not an end in itself. Rather it was the starting point for rebuilding our societies and improving the quality of life of our peoples. The very achievement of political goals brings issues of the economy to the fore. Likewise, the coming of regional peace and stability puts at the top of our joint agenda the question of how to turn political advances into sustainable regional economic revival.
Global trends enhance the urgency of economic matters.
The success of nations today depends upon economic performance in highly competitive world markets. In an era of regional economic groupings, the countries of Southern Africa cannot allow themselves be left behind in the bidding for international investment and a share of markets. The interdependence of our economies compels each Southern African country to consider its own trade and development needs within the context of the needs of the region as a whole. Economically stable and growing markets on our borders are essential for the achievement of our own domestic priorities. And other countries in the region are similarly affected by success or failure of South Africa's plans for development.