Regional Integration Agenda for

This paper seeks to elaborate on the difficult path the Southern Africa Development Community (hereinafter called SADC) finds itself in, while trying to push for a regional integration agenda that is development-oriented and globally relevant. The institutional framework of the organisation was previously oriented towards a cooperative, and not on an integration approach. For this reason institutional challenges remain. There is still a huge gap between SADC regional initiatives and the member states’ national objectives. The set out agenda for transformation to a Free Trade Area in 2008, Customs Union in 2010, Common Market in 2015, Monetary Union in 2016 and regional currency in 2018 is very ambitious under the current environment. Lack of resources weakens the organisation and over donor dependence is a clear problem. The paper concludes with recommendations to resolve these problems.