President Jacob Zuma has called on Southern African countries to work more closely to counter the effects of the global economic crisis.

Zuma told Heads of State at a Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, that member countries had little chance of weathering the crisis on their own.

"Individually, SADC members have little prospect of weathering the current economic turmoil. However, if we harness our collective strength behind the SADC banner, we increase the prospect of achieving our goals of greater human orientated development of the region as well as improving the lives of the people of SADC."

Zuma said that the crisis could not have come at a worse time for Africa.

"It came just as we were turning the corner towards prosperity," he said.

SADC countries had to ensure that this crisis did not undo "the great strides" made in the region in recent years.

"More importantly, it must not result in the further marginalisation of Africa and accentuate the potential for political and social instability in the region."

The economic crisis underscored the need for a reform of the international financial institutions, Zuma said.

"They need to reflect the changing economic realities in the global economy, be more responsive to future challenges and give emerging and developing economies a greater say."

SADC members needed to take cognisance of the emerging new geo-economic architecture, Zuma said.

"We must recognise that whilst it is important to consolidate the beneficial relationship with the north and the European community in particular, we must hasten the development of viable partnerships with new emerging players of the south.

"Our strategy for regional integration does not only concentrate on politics, defence and security. In fact the latter are only enablers for regional integration, economic and social development."

Zuma said "all indicators on the ground" suggested that the ongoing deepening of SADC's integration was set to facilitate more liberalised trade among member states.

The expectation was that up to 85% of intra-SADC trade in goods would be duty free, he said.

It was evident therefore, that all non-tariff barriers to trade, in particular corridor infrastructure, was to be accorded priority.

Climate change would impose an additional burden on societies and present real challenges to development and stability, Zuma said.

"We face the real threat of reduced water availability resulting in low crop yield, food insecurity, disease prevalence and tension between different sectors within communities."

Zuma said the recent escalation of food prices against a backdrop of high increases in energy cost had posed threats of major food insecurity and required "a global consensus for a way forward".