Report on harmonization and rationalization of the activites of intergovernmental organizations in Eastern and Southern Africa

Abstract

This paper will attempt to review the experience of economic integration efforts in Eastern and Southern African subregion. The reasons for their duplication and the likely efforts these would have on the economic integration process in the subregion. The paper is divided into five sections. Section II, reviews the history of regional economic cooperation in Eastern and Southern Africa. The purpose is to set perspective for subsequent analysis. Section III, examines the respective areas of activities of these groupings in order to bring out areas of overlap or duplication. Section IV, provides the rationale for rationalization and harmonization of their activities and programmes. The section will rely on a large body of literature already gathered in this area. Section V merely ends by drawing conclusions and proposing suggestions on the way forward. The paper, it should be stated from the outset, will focus on the two major economic groupings within the sub region, namely: COMESA and SADC, but will draw liberally from other efforts like SACU, EAC, IOC and IGADD if only to highlight the problem.