SADC Summit highlights need for action against electoral irregularities and dictatorship

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) extraordinary summit, held in Harare, has sparked widespread debate on its capacity to address pressing issues like electoral irregularities and dictatorship within the region.

While the limited attendance by Heads of State on on November 20, 2024 has drawn speculation, commentators argue that the focus should be on SADC’s effectiveness in resolving crises, rather than who attends.

Political commentator Mxolisi Ncube urged citizens not to place undue emphasis on the presence or absence of specific leaders.

“I think Zimbabweans should not read too much into who attends these summits or not,” said Ncube in an interview with CITE. “While it might be a feel-good story to say Mnangagwa has been snubbed, sending a minister or envoy means the country and its President have attended. Whoever attends will brief their head of state, and that country will be marked present on the attendance register.”

Ncube added the real concern is the lack of decisive action from SADC on issues of governance.

“For as long as acts of dictatorship and alleged stolen elections are not publicly called out by any head of state, they remain issues ignored, and no solution will be arrived at,” he said.

“SADC and the African Union (AU) need to grow some backbone and make sure that the groundwork done by people like Nevers Mumba becomes more than just a historical reference or cause for division. Rogue governments need to face consequences, not just cryptic messages at summits.”

The summit saw only five of the 16 SADC heads of state — from Zanzibar, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique, Botswana, and Madagascar — reportedly in attendance, with the rest sending ministers or envoys. This has been interpreted by some analysts as a message to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose chairmanship of SADC has drawn criticism over his handling of regional and national issues.

Political analyst Bernard Magugu suggested that regional leaders view President Mnangagwa as a destabilising force within SADC.

“Regional Heads of State are now seeing Mnangagwa as a problem child who is trying to influence election outcomes in other SADC countries,” Magugu said.

“Remember elections in South Africa, Zambia, Botswana and Mozambique unfortunately in Mozambique there is mayhem.”

Magugu added: “The boycott sends a clear message: you created the mess without consulting us, so don’t expect us to clean it up for you.”

“It’s even worse because most of the candidates he (President Mnangagwa) was backing lost the elections serve for Rhamaphosa and Chapo. The message is you will be lonely in this journey,” he said.

The summit, was convened to address regional issues, including the contentious electoral crisis in Mozambique.

Former Zimbabwean Tourism Minister Walter Mzembi described the low turnout as a “salient message” to President Mnangagwa from regional leaders.

He argued the summit has been effectively downgraded to a Council of Ministers meeting, undermining Zimbabwe’s chairmanship.

“Regional heads are asserting their sovereignty, reminding Zimbabwe it is not a prefect in SADC…,” Mzembi wrote on his X account.

Mzembi added that Zimbabwe’s perceived conflict of interest, having prematurely endorsed the disputed election results in Mozambique, undermines its credibility as a neutral chair.

Mzembi also pointed out the presence of Mozambique’s outgoing President Filipe Nyusi, calling him “a face-saving attendee” rather than a leader with significant influence in resolving the crisis.

“So Filipe Nyusi has no locus standi in the current scheme of things except to save someone’s face!” said the former minister.

He also highlighted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s absence, as he opted to attend the G20 summit in Brazil, describing it as a subtle indication of the priorities of regional leaders.

“Cyril is again attending a seemingly more important G20 Brazil hosted  meeting with his sister (Tanzanian president) Suluhu Samia incidentally the Troika Chair whose delegate to a Council of Ministers Meeting incorrectly referred to Daniel Chapo as the President Elect of Botswana!” he said.

Beyond Zimbabwe and Mozambique, Ncube highlighted other regional issues requiring urgent attention, including the banning of opposition parties in Eswatini, ongoing turmoil in the DRC, and rising xenophobia in South Africa.

“Zambia is also sliding toward dictatorship,” Ncube said.

 “SADC needs to take serious action against these crises, which threaten regional stability.”

Not all observers agree with the notion of a snub.

Political commentator, Tinotenda Gachange argued that sending ministers to such summits is standard practice and not necessarily a sign of discontent.

“The claim that the summit has been snubbed overlooks the practicalities of international diplomacy,” Gachange said on X.

 “Not every summit requires heads of state. Ministers are fully capable of representing their countries, especially when the agenda doesn’t necessitate presidential involvement.”

Gachange also defended SADC’s cautious approach to Mozambique’s election crisis, emphasising the importance of respecting member states’ sovereignty.

As SADC grapples with criticism, calls are growing for the regional body to adopt a more assertive stance on governance and electoral integrity.

“It’s time for change and yes these are indicators that winds of changing are strongly blowing across the region,” Magugu said.

“SADC must step up, or it risks losing its credibility as a regional leader.”