Harare is hosting the 44th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Heads of State and Government, but the gathering is overshadowed by tension and a growing crackdown on dissent within Zimbabwe.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, the outgoing Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation chairperson, is notably absent from the summit, adding another layer of complexity to the already fraught regional dynamics.
Hichilema’s absence is seen by many as a direct consequence of the strained relationship between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Zambian leader’s decision to deliver his final report virtually on Friday, instead of attending the summit in person, speaks volumes about the current state of affairs.
The tension stems from the Zimbabwean elections held in August 2023, which were deemed by a Sadc observer mission to fall short of regional standards. The mission, led by former Zambian Vice President Nevers Mumba, was appointed by Hichilema, and its report angered President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
“Most elections held during our tenure were peaceful,” Hichilema stated in his virtual address, carefully avoiding any direct mention of the Zimbabwean elections.
He went on to emphasize the importance of peaceful electoral processes and the need for tolerance, stating, “We want to encourage our ministries, our citizens in our individual countries to support electoral processes, to campaign, to conduct elections, as I said, so pre-election, during election, post-election, in a peaceful and tolerant manner, because that’s what will keep our region steady.”
While Hichilema’s absence casts a long shadow over the summit, the crackdown on dissent within Zimbabwe continues unabated. As President Mnangagwa assumed the rotating SADC chairmanship today, the arrest of former Binga North MP Prince Dubeko Sibanda in Beitbridge further intensified the crackdown.
Sibanda, a vocal critic of the ruling Zanu-PF party, is the latest in a string of opposition activists detained on public order charges. Over 100 opposition activists are currently held in jails across the country.
The arrests of Sibanda and other opposition figures come amidst a climate of heightened political tension. The government’s actions are seen by many as a deliberate attempt to stifle any opposition and ensure a smooth path to re-election.
