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The Herald, 16 July, 1981
LONDON. – Growing superpower rivalry and a more threatening international climate are reinforcing the need for Southern African nations to strengthen their economic independence in order to control their own destiny.
This point has been made by the London liaison committee of diplomats reporting before next week’s Salisbury summit of the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference.
SADCC’s London committee has also reported on South Africa sabotaging the Geneva conference on Namibia and remaining intransigent over a Namibian settlement.
“South Africa’s armed incursions into SADCC states have increased in both frequency and intensity and have been augmented by moves to undermine their economic stability.
“On a wider front, SADCC countries have suffered from the world recession, with falling terms of trade and severe balance of payments problems,” the London committee says.
However, steady progress to reduce regional dependence on South Africa is being made notwithstanding the extremely difficult economic climate.
The London committee said that of the 97 transport and communications projects outlined at the Maputo meeting last year, 22 are now under way, 25 are under appraisal, and “detailed project designations” will have been made for a further 20 by mid-September.
SADCC’s members are Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe – the signatories of last year’s Lusaka Manifesto on “the economic liberation and integrated development of our national economies”. The Lusaka conference identified areas of regional co-operation.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
SADCC faced a superpower threat due to the broader geopolitical context of the Cold War, strategic interests in the region, the presence of an apartheid regime in South Africa, regional instability, and proxy wars fuelled by external powers seeking influence.
During the Cold War era, there was intense rivalry between the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union. This rivalry extended to various regions around the world, including Southern Africa. The presence of strategic interests and ideological competition between these superpowers often led to interventions and influence in different regions.
With its valuable mineral resources and strategic geographical location, the region attracted attention from both superpowers. Southern Africa’s significance in terms of trade routes, access to resources, and potential military bases made it a focal point for superpower involvement.
The apartheid regime in South Africa further complicated the situation. South Africa was seen as a key player in the region due to its economic power and military capabilities. The apartheid policies also drew international condemnation, leading to complex diplomatic relations with other countries in the region.
Conflicts and political instability added to the complexity of security dynamics. Superpowers often sought to exploit these vulnerabilities for their own strategic interests, leading to interference in regional affairs.
Southern Africa became a battleground for proxy conflicts, with external powers backing different groups based on their own agendas.
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