DOS BURACOS NAS ESTRADAS À PROSPERIDADE

The document highlights a critical gap between the SADC's strategic visions and the actual state of its infrastructure. While some corridors like the Trans-Kalahari show success, most regional transport networks suffer from severe degradation, inefficiency at borders, and a lack of financial commitment from member states. The report emphasizes the dominant role of South Africa in regional investment and the potential of privatization and concessions, as seen in Zambia's railways and Maputo's port, to improve efficiency. It also addresses the impact of political crises in Zimbabwe on regional logistics, the strategic importance of transboundary water management, and the growth of wireless communications over fixed lines.

• Poor infrastructure management leads to significant economic losses, with transport and insurance costs absorbing more than 25% of export values in most sub-Saharan African countries.
• The SADC's regional planning is criticized for lacking specific, measurable targets and clear responsibilities, as evidenced by the 10-year Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan adopted in August 2003.
• South Africa maintains a dominant economic position in the SADC, producing approximately 75% of the region's GDP and 90% of its electricity, which creates tension and suspicion among other member states.
• Privatization through concessions is presented as an effective model for revitalizing infrastructure, with the Zambia Railways seeing a 64% increase in freight traffic since the transition process began in 1998.
• The political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe has caused a near-collapse of its vital sectors, including health, energy, and transport, which negatively impacts the entire region due to Zimbabwe's central geographic position.
• Wireless communication has grown rapidly in the SADC, with mobile phone users exceeding fixed-line users in all member countries between 1995 and 2002.
• Water resources are a strategic but marginalized issue in SADC; six of the region's international basins (Cunene, Incomati, Limpopo, Okavango, Orange, and Zambeze) are considered 'at risk'.
• The Port of Maputo is the first African port to be entirely managed by the private sector via concessions, with a plan to increase cargo volume from 4 million to 18 million tons over 15 years.
• Angola's transport infrastructure requires extensive rehabilitation following decades of war, with the government prioritizing making roads 'passable' and restoring the Benguela railway.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2003). DOS BURACOS NAS ESTRADAS À PROSPERIDADE. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/SADC_Oct03_Port.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. DOS BURACOS NAS ESTRADAS À PROSPERIDADE. 2003. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/SADC_Oct03_Port.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=DOS BURACOS NAS ESTRADAS À PROSPERIDADE |date=October 2003 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/SADC_Oct03_Port.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2003dos, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{DOS BURACOS NAS ESTRADAS À PROSPERIDADE}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2003}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/SADC_Oct03_Port.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }