Prominent Zimbabwean opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has sharply criticized the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for endorsing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership by appointing him as the bloc’s chairman. Mnangagwa officially took over the role during a ceremony at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden, Harare, succeeding Angola’s President João Lourenço.
Chamisa, the former leader of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC), took to social media to question the integrity of SADC, asking if the organization was merely a “community of values or a union of vices.” He argued that a SADC devoid of standards, values, and principles is “irrelevant and defunct,” and cannot be trusted to uphold fairness, peace, and justice for the African people. Chamisa called for a transformation of SADC into an institution that supports the oppressed rather than the oppressive.
This criticism follows Chamisa’s recent efforts to involve SADC in Zimbabwe’s disputed 2023 presidential election, which he alleges was manipulated by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to favor Mnangagwa. Despite his appeals, SADC has yet to take any action on the matter.
In a related development, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, a close ally of Chamisa, opted to attend the SADC summit virtually. This decision was reportedly influenced by ongoing diplomatic tensions between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Fred M’membe, president of Zambia’s Socialist Party, criticized Hichilema for what he described as a diplomatic blunder and accused him of lacking wise counsel.
M’membe labeled Hichilema as a “puppet of neocolonial forces” and criticized his leadership style as intellectually lazy and overly dependent on external influences. The controversies surrounding SADC’s new leadership and the diplomatic dynamics within the region underscore ongoing political tensions and differing perspectives on governance and international relations in Southern Africa.
In other news – Man arrested in connection with 2019 murder
In a significant development, 41-year-old Jealous Samoyo from Kuwadzana 7 has been arrested in connection with the murder of Wellington Marongedze, a case that has remained unresolved for four years. Samoyo’s arrest came last week following the discovery of a firearm linked to the crime in his possession.
Samoyo appeared before Harare magistrate Simon Kandiyero, who remanded him in custody until September 25. Read More
