The Role of South Africa in Southern African Regional Integration: The View of the Zimbabwean State, Capital and Civil Society

Abstract

This article provides an analysis of the role of the South African state in  Southern African regional integration as viewed by the Zimbabwean state, capital and civil society. Their view is that South Africa should forge and sustain better and more equitable relations with the rest of Southern Africa so as to create and sustain a more meaningful mutual dependence. It should not strengthen its domination of the region. Directly related to this view is their position that Southern African countries are much stronger as a regional bloc than operating as individual social formations. Their expectation is to see increased integration in terms of mobilisation, generation and distribution of resources, including wealth, with South Africa as a regional power playing a leading role.