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Paper short abstract:

The paper provides a critical view of the official position of Southern African Customs Union on its place within Southern African regional integration agenda. It executes this theoretical task by exploring its position on six critical issues.

Paper long abstract:

This paper provides a critical view of the official position of Southern African Customs Union on its place within Southern African regional integration agenda. It executes this theoretical task by exploring its position on six issues. They are, firstly, whether SACU as a customs union is advancing regional integration. Secondly, whether SACU can effectively be used as a model for Southern African regional integration. To what extent does it provide a model for regional integration? Thirdly, whether there are structural challenges in using SACU as a model for regional integration? Fourthly, are there obstacles to SACU's expansion? Fifthly, are there opportunities available to SACU's admission of other Sothern African Development Community (SADC) countries and even Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa countries as members? Sixthly, implications of the implementation of the decision of SACU heads of state and government for SACU to be an economic community for Southern African regional integration agenda. Interrogating these challenges, the paper raises the question as to whether SACU should not be integrated into SADC to serve the broader long-term strategic regional interests.