President
Samia Suluhu Hassan joins the 44th SADC Summit with Heads of State, on August
17, 2024, amid rising regional strains. Photo: CourtesyBy
Adonis Byemelwa
Dar
es Salaam: As Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa
assumes leadership of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for the
first time, regional leaders, including Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu
Hassan, have gathered in Harare for the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of
State and Government.
The summit, held on August 17, 2024, is themed
“Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and
Development towards an Industrialised SADC.” This moment is a significant
milestone for Mnangagwa's administration, yet it unfolds under a cloud of
growing tensions and escalating crackdowns on pro-democracy activists in
Zimbabwe.
In
the weeks leading up to the summit, Zimbabwe has 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
the 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, the regional director of CiZC, expressed the deep anxiety felt by the
staff, who now fear for their safety in an increasingly hostile environment.
"It was a very traumatic experience for them, and they feel unsafe,"
Vava told Al Jazeera, speculating that the attackers were likely government
operatives. This brazen attempt to intimidate pro-democracy advocates has added
to the growing concerns over the Zimbabwean government’s crackdown ahead of the
SADC summit, a development that has sent shockwaves through the region and
beyond.
Four
masked men attempted a break-in at the Harare office, instilling terror among
staff members who sought refuge until the assailants fled after triggering an
alarm. “It was a very traumatic experience for them, and they feel unsafe,”
Blessing Vava, the regional director of CiZC, told Al Jazeera.
He suspects 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 has denied orchestrating such attacks, the incident
at CiZC is 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 claims these arrests are necessary to prevent disruptions to the
SADC summit, but Amnesty International reports that detainees have 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 have largely remained silent, offering
little response as Zimbabwe edges closer to an all-out crisis. Critics argue
that this silence emboldens the Mnangagwa administration to continue its
repressive tactics. “The government is paranoid. It’s afraid of its people,”
Vava said, echoing a growing sentiment among activists who fear for their
safety.
The
summit, hosted in Zimbabwe for the first time in a decade, is 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.
“South
Africa’s silence … appears paradoxical,” 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.
The
situation in Zimbabwe has led to calls from some quarters for the SADC summit
to be relocated. Opposition leaders, such as Mmusi Maimane of the Build One
South Africa party, have openly criticized the decision to allow Mnangagwa to
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 to proceed in Zimbabwe would endorse “flagrant abuse of
international law.”
As
the summit progresses, concerns about Zimbabwe’s political future loom large.
Mnangagwa’s tenure has been characterized 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, criminalizes
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. Reflecting on the possibility
of further repression, Vava warned, “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 homegrown
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 industrialization and
regional growth, emphasizing that the time to act is now.
The
SADC summit in Harare has become a pivotal moment not just for Zimbabwe but for
the entire Southern African region. The decisions made here will resonate far
beyond the confines of this 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 has played a significant part in
mediating conflicts and fostering peace, as seen in its ongoing efforts to
stabilize 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 peacekeeping 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 organization'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
fixed on Harare, and the outcome of this 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.