Zambia’s Overlapping Membership in SADC and COMESA

Africa's aspiration for integration exceeds that of any other continent. This goal has resulted in an unsustainable situation in which African countries frequently belong to two or more regional entities. It is vital to emphasize that regardless of the shared objectives of any African regional economic community, most members will prioritize their national interests over anything else. As a result of this predicament, some countries, such as Zambia, have chosen a strategy of overlapping membership, belonging to various organizations within the region. The study's goal is to objectively examine overlapping membership as a benefit and a barrier to regional integration. This article uses Zambia's experience in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) as a case study. This article examines Zambia's overlapping membership in these regional economic communities (RECs) using realist theory and integration theory. The author finds that, while Zambia is an active participant and reaps benefits in both regional communities, being a dual member of SADC and COMESA presents economic and legal challenges © (2023), All Rights Reserved.