Malawi has always been a free market economy with a free trade and investment environment. The government encourages both domestic and foreign investment in any sector of the economy, with minor restrictions on ownership, size of investment, source of funds, and destination of final product. It economy is essentially Agri based.

Zambia’s economic transformation into a free-market system began toward the end of 1991, in stark contrast to the statist African socialist regime of Kaunda. To tackle a serious economic crisis, the government agreed to introduce substantial economic reforms to secure much-needed loans from the World Bank and IMF.

Mozambique has a mixed economy combining both traditional and market economic systems. In Mozambique, agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, and the country has a great potential for growth in the sector. Agriculture employs more than 80 percent of the labour force and provides livelihoods to most of its inhabitants.

South Africa has a mixed economy in which there is a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. It is the most industrialized, technologically advanced, and diversified economy in Africa. It is a middle-income emerging market with a rich supply of natural resources, with well-developed institutions and infrastructure.

Zimbabwe has a mixed economy with limited private freedom. The country is endowed with natural resources and diverse wildlife. Also, it shares the Victoria Falls with Zambia. The country’s economy was robust in the 1980s and early 1990s but crumbled partly due to corrupt governance and largely western economic sanctions. However, Zimbabwe has potential to rebuild.

Tanzania has a mixed economy in which there is a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. It is largely a lower-middle income economy that depends on agriculture. However, the country is gradually transitioning to a free-market economy which offers potential private sector enhancement.