Bridging the Execution Gap in AfCFTA and SADC Cross-Border E-Commerce: A Compliance-Readiness Decision-Support Framework for South African MSMEs (Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi)

This working paper proposes a compliance-readiness decision-support framework for South African micro, small and medium enterprises considering cross-border e-commerce under the AfCFTA and the SADC Trade Protocol. It evaluates products against three pillars (tariff origin, technical and sanitary standards, and e-commerce and payment regulation) for Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi, and classifies gaps as Fatal, Material or Operational. It sets out a structured expert-validation protocol, describes the role of an independent verification layer (Africa SME Veritas), and proposes three institutional systems for government and industry. The paper is a design and validation proposal; its claims are hypotheses for testing, not empirical findings. Expert validators are invited to contact [email protected]