A Lackluster Affair Amid Controversy and Criticism

Staff Reporter

The recent Sadc summit in Harare, Zimbabwe, was notable for its poor attendance, with only four leaders attending from a 16-member group. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, chairperson of the Sadc Troika, sent Zanzibar leader Hussein Mwinyi to represent her, while Zambian leader Hakainde Hichilema was conspicuous by his absence.

The low turnout has been attributed to various factors, including the lack of seriousness on the part of Sadc and perceptions about Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s standing in the region. Some analysts have argued that nothing of substance comes out of Sadc, leading leaders to question the relevance of attending such meetings.

The summit’s poor attendance was also due to the dates clashing with another major event, the G20 summit. Walter Mzembi, Zimbabwe’s former Foreign Affairs minister, criticized the planning of the summit, stating that Zimbabwe should have lobbied heads of state to attend.

Despite the poor attendance, the summit applauded Mnangagwa for his commitment to peace in the region. However, this praise has been overshadowed by controversy surrounding Mnangagwa’s leadership, including his handling of Mozambique’s civil unrest.

Mnangagwa has been criticized for prematurely congratulating Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo before results were announced, triggering unrest that has resulted in at least 30 deaths. The Sadc summit’s failure to address these issues has raised concerns about the organization’s effectiveness in promoting regional cooperation and stability.