Covid-19 pandemic and international commerce in Southern Africa: documentary review

Abstract

International commerce across southern Africa has increased significantly in recent years. This phenomenon has been replicating what has been happening on the African continent as a whole, and it does indicate that the region has significant growth in economic opportunities. Hence, the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted international commerce and caused significant concern. The emphasis of this work was on the global economic interconnectivity in the Southern African region prior to and during the Covid-19 pandemic. The main objective of this study was to determine how the Covid-19 pandemic influenced international commerce in Southern Africa. The study was qualitative in nature, as well as secondary data collection methods were used. The research used a documentary review as its analysis method. This included compiling and analysing more than 60 online resources relating to various and relevant the Covid-19 pandemic and international commerce from several past research. The study found that the world economy, particularly the economies of Southern African nations, was encountering certain difficulties before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was stated that as a consequence of the pandemic, Southern African countries implemented a slew of steps in an effort to overcome the issues posed by the Covid-19 pandemic interruptions.

Keywords: {'name': 'Southern Africa, Covid 19 pandemic, World Financial Crisis, International commerce, and Tourism '}

Authors & affiliations

Kansilembo Aliamutu
Affiliation not supplied

Msizi Mkhize
Affiliation not supplied

Deposited references

Supplied references, not a list of publications citing this article.

DOI: 10.5089/9781513542379.006

DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.3693901

Ajambo, E., & Emebinah, C. (2021). The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): Maximizing benefits for the continent. Harvard Africa Policy Journal, 75, 23-29.

Amadichukwu, P. (2021). Unpacking the significance of African Continental Free Trade Area for Africa and its people. 56, 66-69.

Asante Antwi, H., Zhou, L., Xu, X., & Mustafa, T. (n.d.). Beyond COVID-19 pandemic: An integrative review of global health crisis influencing the evolution and practice of corporate social responsibility. 75, 45-49.

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.97394

Banga, K., Keane, J., Mendez-Parra, M., Pettinotti, L., & Sommer, L. (2020). Africa trade and COVID-19: The supply chain dimension. ODI Working Paper, 52, 31-33.

DOI: 10.1163/9789004683082_012

Draper, P., Edjigu, H., & Freytag, A. (2018). Analysing intra-African trade. World Economics, 19, 55-74.

DOI: 10.1215/03616878-10910269

DOI: 10.3390/su14041944

Gamede, N. W. (2022). The effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on income distribution in South Africa: A literature review perspective. African Journal of Governance and Development, 11, 104-124.

DOI: 10.30892/gtg.362spl18-700

DOI: 10.1108/JITLP-02-2023-0011

DOI: 10.36615/thethinker.v88i3.602

DOI: 10.31920/2516-5305/2021/18n1a13

Jain, S. K. (2020). Impact on international trade during COVID-19 pandemic: A case study of India. Developing Economies, 44, 15-19.

DOI: 10.1186/s40985-020-00139-0

Kassa, W., Edjigu, H. T., & Zeufack, A. G. (2022). The promise and challenge of the African continental free trade area. In Africa in the New Trade Environment: Market Access in Troubled Times (pp. 86-92).

Kouam, H., & Sundjo, F. (2022). Trade liberalization and economic development: Lessons for Africa. 76, 96-99.

DOI: 10.1111/jwip.12281

DOI: 10.46222/ajhtl.19770720.206

DOI: 10.31389/lsepress.hat.h

Luke, D., & MacLeod, J. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on trade in Africa. Africa at LSE, 56, 35-39.

Lungo, L. (2019). The African Continental Free Trade Area: The role of EU support for Africa’s historic trade agreement. 35, 66-69.

DOI: 10.31389/lsepress.hat.f

DOI: 10.4102/hts.v78i4.7585

DOI: 10.54648/GTCJ2023007

DOI: 10.1080/10220461.2020.1866656

DOI: 10.4102/apsdpr.v9i1.497

DOI: 10.35188/UNU-WIDER/2021/005-4

DOI: 10.35188/UNU-WIDER/2021/005-4

Mogendi, J., Nganga, T. K., & Osoro, K. (2022). Effects of Covid-19 on international trade and post recovery strategies in Kenya. Journal, 59, 68-72.

Mold, A. (2020). The countdown to implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area in East Africa. Journal, 46, 55-59.

Mold, A., & Mveyange, A. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 crisis on trade: Recent evidence from East Africa. Journal, 33, 86-92.

DOI: 10.56397/JWE.2023.03.02

Mutizwa, B. (2020). COVID-19 a global nightmare: Revamping the Zimbabwean Health Sector (ZHS) for future epidemic and pandemic management. Journal of African Problems & Solutions (JAPS), 2, 59-73.

DOI: 10.1108/JCEFTS-08-2020-0050

Olaniyan, O. (2021). The African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) in the post COVID-19 era. Nigerian Journal of Economic and Social Studies, 63, 105-109.

Onafowokan, A. O., Osoata, J., & Oni, B. (2021). Impacts of COVID-19 on Migration and Intra-African Trade. African Journal of Sustainable Development, 11, 149-160.

Opute, A., Iwu, C., Adeola, O., Mugobo, V., Okeke-Uzodike, O., Fagbola, O., & Jaiyeoba, O. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic and implications for businesses: Innovative retail marketing viewpoint. The Retail and Marketing Review, 16, 85-100.

Oulmane, N., Jallab, M. S., & Zidouemba, P. R. (2020a). The African Continental Free Trade Area and measures to facilitate trade could significantly mitigate COVID-19’s economic impact in Africa. Journal, 122, 56-59.

Oulmane, N., Sadni Jallab, M., & Zidouemba, P. (2020b). The African Continental Free Trade Area in a Covid-19 time: Macroeconomic and sectoral impacts. Journal, 850, 125-129.

DOI: 10.5325/jafrideve.23.2.0347

Parshotam, A. (2018). Can the African Continental Free Trade Area offer a new beginning for trade in Africa? Journal, 985, 586-590.

DOI: 10.30892/gtg.31321-544

Shinyekwa, I., Kumeka, T., Adedeji, A., & Adeniyi, O. (2021). Effects of COVID-19 on trade, industrialization, and globalization in Africa. African Journal of Sustainable Development, 11, 162-186.

Siamabele, B. (2021). Pandemics and cross-border trade. About The Afsol Journal, 7.

Sign, L., & Van Der Ven, C. (2020). How the AfCFTA will improve access to essential products and bolster Africa's resilience to respond to future pandemics. 95, 108-110.

DOI: 10.2991/jat.k.211208.001

Taher, M. A. I. M. (2021). Coronavirus impact on international trade in South Asian countries' economies (A case study of Afghanistan). Oriental Renaissance: Innovative, Educational, Natural and Social Sciences, 1, 320-325.

Tröster, B., & Janechová, E. (2021). The long journey towards Pan-African integration: The African Continental Free Trade Area and its challenges. ÖFSE Briefing Paper, 58, 65-98.

Zgovu, E. K. (2021). East African Community regional trade policy amidst the COVID-19 crisis. 56, 58-65.

DOI: 10.4102/jolgri.v3i0.58