ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the origins, objectives, primary functions and evolution of the Southern African Development Community (SACD, formerly known as the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference). SADC, established in 1992, includes 16 members: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The chapter concludes by assessing some of the challenges the organization faces for the future. It also asks whether the community wants to and can become ‘deeper’ (i.e. experience increased convergence and harmonization in a variety of economic, political and social areas) and ‘wider’ through the addition of new additional members.
