Zimbabwe and South Africa: Security Takes Precedence Over Economy

The document examines South Africa's role as a SADC facilitator in Zimbabwe, noting that the decision to end regional monitoring after the 2013 elections was driven by a desire to avoid military instability and migration. It argues that this 'security first' approach ignored Zimbabwe's deepening economic crisis and highlighted a lack of coordination between the South African government and its private sector in executing economic diplomacy.

• Following the July 2013 elections, South Africa and other Southern African Development Community (SADC) members removed Zimbabwe from their official agenda, a decision based on security and political factors that ignored the risks of a slow economic collapse.
• South Africa's policy response to the 2013 elections was primarily driven by intelligence and security concerns, specifically the goal of reducing Zimbabwean migration and avoiding potential military conflict.
• The return of Zanu-PF to power in 2013 is viewed as the worst possible economic outcome, as it undermined previous recovery efforts led by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and damaged credibility with international partners.
• Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a severe liquidity crisis and fiscal pressure, exacerbated by the Zanu-PF government's use of state resources and patronage to maintain political power.
• South Africa's economic diplomacy toward Zimbabwe is limited to the promotion of trade and investment and lacks a coordinated strategy involving the private sector, which hinders its effectiveness.
• A stable Zimbabwe is considered a prerequisite for the success of the North–South Corridor infrastructure initiative, making the country's stability a domestic priority for South Africa.

APA

Makokera, C. G. (2015). Zimbabwe and South Africa: Security Takes Precedence Over Economy. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Policy-Briefing-126.pdf

Chicago

Makokera, Catherine Grant. Zimbabwe and South Africa: Security Takes Precedence Over Economy. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2015. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Policy-Briefing-126.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Makokera |first1=Catherine Grant |title=Zimbabwe and South Africa: Security Takes Precedence Over Economy |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=February 2015 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Policy-Briefing-126.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{makokera2015zimbabwe, author = {Makokera, Catherine Grant}, title = {{Zimbabwe and South Africa: Security Takes Precedence Over Economy}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2015}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Policy-Briefing-126.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }