policy-briefing-126-b80ddb433194f74d.pdf

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines South Africa's economic diplomacy toward Zimbabwe following the July 2013 elections. It argues that South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) prioritized security and political stability over economic concerns, leading to a decision to end regional monitoring of Zimbabwe despite a continuing economic crisis.

• Following the July 2013 elections in Zimbabwe, South Africa and other SADC members removed Zimbabwe from the regional agenda, prioritizing security and political considerations over the long-term risks of a slow economic collapse.
• South Africa's policy response to Zimbabwe's 2013 elections was heavily influenced by intelligence and security concerns, specifically the desire to reduce the number of migrants from Zimbabwe and avoid potential military conflict.
• The victory of Zanu-PF in 2013 is viewed as the worst possible economic outcome, as it eliminated hopes for short-term recovery and cut off essential new investment and recapitalization that had begun under the Government of National Unity.
• Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a severe liquidity crisis and fiscal pressure, as the state budget is primarily used to pay civil servant salaries and maintain a patronage system of party loyalists in government and state-owned enterprises.
• South Africa's economic diplomacy is limited by a lack of coordination and mistrust between the government and the private sector, resulting in a strategy that focuses on trade and investment promotion rather than a comprehensive regional development approach.
• A stable Zimbabwe is considered a prerequisite for South Africa to successfully champion the North–South Corridor infrastructure initiative.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (n.d.). policy-briefing-126-b80ddb433194f74d.pdf. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Policy-Briefing-126.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. policy-briefing-126-b80ddb433194f74d.pdf. n.d. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Policy-Briefing-126.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=policy-briefing-126-b80ddb433194f74d.pdf |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{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairsndpolicybriefing126b80ddb433194f74dpdf, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{policy-briefing-126-b80ddb433194f74d.pdf}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Policy-Briefing-126.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }