Lusaka, Zambia – The ongoing SADC meeting of ministers in Lusaka has been overshadowed by the arrest of prominent Zimbabwean activist and vlogger, Pardon Gambakwe, known for his one-man-band style of protest and commentary. The incident has sparked concerns about the freedom of expression and the treatment of dissenting voices in the region.
Gambakwe, a familiar vlogger in Zimbabwe’s political landscape, was filming in Lusaka near the conference area of the SADC meeting when he was approached by three officers who ordered him to stop. Despite his attempts to comply with their instructions, his camera was swiftly switched off, and he was whisked away in a scene that unfolded live on camera.
“A pale-faced Gambakwe was filming live when three officers walked up to him and ordered him to stop filming at the Mulungushi Conference premises,” the Zimeye reported. “His camera was swiftly switched off after officers noticed he was not following their directions.”
The arrest comes at a time when a group of protesting Zimbabweans, including a Chamisa leader for South Africa Trust, Ndlovu, and local leader Peter Maposa, successfully delivered a petition to SADC officials. The group was granted a meeting with SADC leadership, highlighting a contrast in the treatment of different voices at the conference.
“It was a different ballgame for Gambakwe, who was playing solo and somewhat in the wrong place at the wrong time when he was whisked away by officers on live camera,” added Zimeye.
This just happened to @Gambakwe in Zambia outside of the SADC meeting venue pic.twitter.com/zh1vaOPYrF
— Gerrard Anko Ged Belts (@MacBelts) July 11, 2024
The incident raises questions about the level of tolerance for dissent within SADC member states, particularly in the context of the ongoing political and economic challenges facing Zimbabwe. Gambakwe’s arrest comes just days after he made public statements critical of the police and the nation’s leadership, which may have fallen under public order laws.
“At around 8 p.m., he briefly told ZimEye he was still in police custody,” reported a ZimEye correspondent. “He suggested to ZimEye that he has been charged with “criminal trespass.””
The arrest has been met with widespread condemnation from civil society organisations and human rights activists, who view it as a blatant attempt to silence dissenting voices.
