Abstract
The objective of this research was to appraise the influence of COVID-19 on the economic expansion of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) countries, using yearly averages from the period 2010 to 2021. Prior research has focused on the effect of COVID-19 on the global economy, with limited studies conducted on the economic consequences of the pandemic in the SACU region. The economies of the SACU member states depend on international trade. A panel data random of fixed effects analysis was employed. The results showed a significant negative impact of the lockdown period on GDP per capita, suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial negative impact on the economic growth of SACU countries. As a result, the study recommends that there be an improvement in economic activities during any pandemic that may arise in the future. Moreover, there should be a reduction in import and export levies as so to improve trade. Finally, governments should increase their expenditure to bolster consumer demand during economic downturns caused by pandemics as well as, strengthen digital trade infrastructure and e-commerce capabilities to facilitate trade continuity during periods of limited physical movement.