While the implementation of adult literacy promotion can best be handled at the national level, some important things can be done at the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC) level. A persuasive argument can be made on behalf of adult literacy in the SADCC development strategy. The people need to be educated in the political economy of oppressive systems and be helped to understand how they must think and act to break out of their bondage. Adult literacy provides an excellent opportunity for social mobilization. The teaching of literacy in the SADCC region can include content that will reinforce SADCC vision and policies. (Following this overview of the topic, individual discussions are offered of adult literacy policy and performance in the nine member states of SADCC: Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Angola. These general statements are made: (1) near-universal adult literacy is essential for development of each individual country in the SADCC region; (2) near-universal adult literacy is possible to obtain; (3) without near-universal adult literacy, economic liberation from South Africa will not come; and (4) near-universal adult literacy will bring the common man "inside politics.") (YLB)