SADC Comes Under Mnangagwa Watch As Summit Holds In Harare Amid Escalating Regional Tensions

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President Samia Suluhu Hassan joins the 44th SADC Summit with Heads of State, on August 17, 2024, amid rising regional strains.

In June, members of the opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change were detained for holding a political gathering deemed unauthorised by authorities.

Regional leaders, including Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, on Saturday August 17, 2024, gathered in Harare, Zimbabwe capital, for the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, as Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, assumed leadership of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for the first time.

The summit, was themed “Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development towards an Industrialised SADC”. That moment was a significant milestone for Mnangagwa’s administration, yet it unfolded under a cloud of growing tensions and escalating crackdowns on pro-democracy activists in Zimbabwe.

In the weeks leading up to the summit, Zimbabwe had been gripped by a disturbing escalation in state-sponsored repression, with security forces intensifying their crackdown on activists and opposition members.

This mounting tension reached a new peak on the morning of August 7, when a chilling incident unfolded at the offices of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC), a prominent network of groups advocating for democratic freedoms.

The scene, which was broadcast on Al Jazeera Television, revealed the terror that ensued as four masked men attempted to force their way into the CiZC office in Harare.

As four masked assailants tried to break in, staff members inside were left in a state of sheer panic, seeking refuge as the intruders persisted. It was only after the office alarm was triggered that the attackers fled, leaving behind a shaken and terrified team.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and heightened fears of government-sponsored intimidation against those daring to speak out. Al Jazeera’s coverage brought the stark reality of Zimbabwe’s political climate to an international audience, shedding light on the lengths to which the regime will go to silence dissent.

Blessing Vava, Regional Director of CiZC, expressed the deep anxiety felt by the staff, who now fear for their safety in an increasingly hostile environment.

Said Vava to Al Jazeera, speculating that the attackers were likely government operatives: “It was a very traumatic experience for them, and they feel unsafe”.

That brazen attempt to intimidate pro-democracy advocates added to the growing concerns over the Zimbabwean government’s crackdown ahead of the SADC summit, a development that had sent shockwaves through the region and beyond.

Vava suspected the intruders were government operatives, especially since the attack occurred shortly after a government-owned newspaper accused the group of plotting protests.

While the Zimbabwean government denied orchestrating such attacks, the incident at CiZC was part of a broader pattern of repression. Since June, security officials have arrested over 160 activists and opposition members, including Jameson Timba, leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

The government claimed these arrests were necessary to prevent disruptions to the SADC summit, but Amnesty International (AI) reported that detainees had been subjected to physical assaults and psychological torture while in custody, heightening concerns about the state of human rights in the country.

Despite the mounting crackdown, SADC leaders largely remained silent, offering little response as Zimbabwe edged closer to an all-out crisis. Critics argue that this silence emboldens the Mnangagwa administration to continue its repressive tactics.

Said Vava, echoing a growing sentiment among activists who fear for their safety: “The government is paranoid. It’s afraid of its people”.

The summit, hosted in Zimbabwe for the first time in a decade, was a critical moment for the region. As President Mnangagwa takes the helm of SADC, questions are swirling about the bloc’s commitment to upholding its founding principles of democracy and human rights. South Africa, a key member of SADC, has faced particular scrutiny for its perceived inaction.

Remarked Tinashe Sithole, a political science lecturer at the University of Johannesburg, highlighting Pretoria’s reluctance to confront Harare due to historical ties and concerns over immigration: “South Africa’s silence … appears paradoxical”.

The situation in Zimbabwe had led to calls from some quarters for the SADC summit to be relocated. Such opposition leaders as Mmusi Maimane of the Build One South Africa party, had openly criticised the decision to allow Mnangagwa chair the summit.

The Democratic Alliance (DA), part of South Africa’s new coalition government, stated on August 2, urging SADC to strip Mnangagwa of his chairmanship, warning that allowing the summit proceed in Zimbabwe would endorse “flagrant abuse of international law”.

As the summit progressed, concerns about Zimbabwe’s political future loom large. Mnangagwa’s tenure has been characterised by a steady erosion of civil liberties, a trend that shows no signs of abating.

The Patriotic Bill passed in the lead-up to the August 2023 elections, criminalises actions perceived as damaging to Zimbabwe’s sovereignty, with harsh penalties designed to stifle dissent. Despite his re-election, Mnangagwa’s victory was marred by widespread allegations of rigging, which opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa, described as a “giant fraud”.

The conclusion of the SADC summit may well usher in an even more intense crackdown on dissent. With the ruling ZANU-PF party splintering into factions, Zimbabwe’s political landscape is fraught with uncertainty.

Warned Vava while reflecting on the possibility of further repression: “We are working with the worst-case scenario… We are now in the ZANU-PF succession mode, and we can’t rule out an escalation”.

Amid the escalating tensions, Claver Gatete, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), delivered a pointed address at the summit, drawing attention to Africa’s mounting challenges.

In his remarks, now available on the SADC website, Gatete highlighted the continent’s staggering USD 1 trillion debt crisis, with over a third of African nations at risk of debt distress. He underlined the declining long-term concessional finance, official development assistance, and foreign direct investments, exacerbating the economic strain.

Gatete also warned of the severe impact of climate change, which is eroding 5 percent of GDP annually, particularly in the SADC region. Calling for urgent reform of the global financial architecture, Gatete stressed the need for home-grown solutions, focusing on regional value chains, food security, minerals development, and technology.

He pointed to initiatives like the Zambia-Zimbabwe Common Agro-Industrial Park and the DRC-Zambia electric battery project as critical steps forward. Gatete urged SADC to leverage its natural resources and energy potential to drive sustainable industrialisation and regional growth, emphasising that the time to act was now.

The SADC summit in Harare became a pivotal moment not just for Zimbabwe but for the entire Southern African region. The decisions made there would resonate far beyond the confines of that gathering, setting the course for the region’s political and economic trajectory.

The power of SADC lies in its ability to foster unity and address crises among its member states, a role that has never been more critical. In the past, SADC had played a significant part in mediating conflicts and fostering peace, as seen in its ongoing efforts to stabilise the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The DRC, a country rich in minerals but plagued by conflict, has been a focal point for SADC’s peace-keeping and economic initiatives. Through its regional mechanisms, SADC has worked to support the DRC’s fragile peace process, aiming to transform the nation’s vast resources into a source of stability and prosperity for its people.

The future of SADC hinges on its ability to act decisively in moments of crisis. As Zimbabwe teeters on the brink of deeper repression, the region looks to SADC for leadership that transcends mere diplomacy. The organisation’s capacity to address the challenges facing its member states—whether in Zimbabwe, the DRC, or elsewhere—will determine its relevance and influence in the years to come.

Will SADC rise to the occasion, leveraging its collective strength to uphold the principles of democracy, human rights, and economic integration that it was founded upon? Or will it falter, allowing the forces of repression and instability to take root? The eyes of the world are still fixed on Harare, and the outcome of that summit will either solidify SADC’s role as a bastion of regional stability or expose its limitations in the face of growing challenges. The stakes could not be higher, and the time for decisive action is now.

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