Former Cabinet Minister Walter Mzembi believes that the forthcoming Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, where Zimbabwe will assume the chairmanship, will serve as a substantial legitimacy seal for the Zimbabwean government, notably President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
This development comes after Mnangagwa’s recent election victory, which was marked by controversy and condemnation from the regional body itself and other international election observers like the European Union.
Harare is set to host the 44th SADC summit and assume chairmanship on the 17th of August next month. The country will assume the chairmanship of the regional bloc until 2025.
According to Mzembi, a fierce critic of Mnangagwa, this development will act as a legitimacy seal for Mnangagwa and his regime. Mzembi noted that even those Presidents who snubbed Mnangagwa’s inauguration will be part of this seal.
Mzembi stated that civil society has no locus in SADC’s business, and instead, urged reform of the regional organisation to be able to challenge oppressive regimes.
“SADC Summit and assumption of Chairmanship by Emmerson Mnangagwa is a huge legitimacy seal for the Zimbabwean government. Even those Presidents who snubbed his inauguration for one reason/excuse or the other will be part of this seal. Civil Society has no locus in SADC’s business.
“Seek ye first, the reform of SADC and your voice will be added onto its business and agenda. For now, it is what it is a Member State intergovernmental regional organisation very remotely connected to civil society aspirations,” Mzembi posted on his X handle.
Mnangagwa won the 2023 presidential election with 52.6 percent of the vote compared with 44 percent for challenger Nelson Chamisa. The opposition leader refused to accept the result, citing massive rigging.
The SADC also condemned the electoral process, arguing that it failed to meet the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and regional standards.
Zimbabwe is already preparing to host the 16-member bloc with hotels being renovated, new roads and villas being constructed.
As the SADC summit approaches in August, President Mnangagwa has made it clear that he will not brook any opposition, and his government has already taken drastic measures to silence potential dissent.
More than 70 opposition activists, detained on June 16, are currently being held at Harare’s Central Remand Prison on charges of plotting protests against the president during the upcoming summit.
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