SADC Summit in Harare: Mnangagwa Takes Charge as Regional Tensions Escalate

By 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.