New research led by SPU’s Dr Darlington Chizema with the assistance of Prof Ramos E. Mabugu and Dr Christelle Meniago, has revealed how corruption is holding back progress in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional block made up of 16 countries.
The study looked at how corruption affected the economies across SADC countries between 2005 and 2022. The main takeaway? Corruption seriously weakens economic performance – it wastes resources, reduces public trust and scares off investors.
The study shows that reducing corruption leads to stronger economic growth across SADC countries. However, education and investment alone aren’t enough – without good governance, these efforts don’t always translate into economic progress. Trade openness plays a positive role, with countries more engaged in global trade experiencing better growth. Interestingly, higher government effectiveness doesn’t always guarantee economic success, highlighting the importance of how public resources are managed and implemented.
The researchers suggest that SADC countries need to:
- Strengthen anti-corruption institutions.
- Promote transparency and accountability.
- Use technology to detect and report corruption.
- Invest in skills development and boost trade partnerships.
This matters because by tackling corruption and strengthening institutions, the SADC region can unlock its full economic potential – benefiting millions of people across southern Africa.
Read the full research paper here: https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13040106
