By Leonnel Mhuka
The recently concluded 44th SADC Summit in Zimbabwe has ignited significant controversy and criticism, particularly concerning the legitimacy of Mr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s new role as the SADC chairperson. Former Masvingo Central MP, Hon. Jefferson Chitando, spoke to Change Radio, expressing strong concerns about the true significance of Mnangagwa’s chairmanship and the broader implications for Zimbabwe’s political landscape.
Hon. Chitando began by questioning the importance of Mnangagwa’s role, pointing out that this is the 44th SADC summit, meaning the chairmanship has been rotated 43 times before. “What is so special about Mnangagwa’s chairmanship?” he asked, stressing that the position is largely ceremonial. He argued that ZANU-PF is attempting to use this role to gain legitimacy, which they lack in the eyes of the Zimbabwean people and the international community.
The former MP went on to say that the real legitimacy lies with the people of Zimbabwe, not with regional bodies like SADC. He criticized the government’s tactics of deploying security forces to intimidate citizens and suppress demonstrations. “The people of Zimbabwe, whom you chased away and deployed guns and baton sticks in the streets to intimidate them from demonstrating, are the only ones with the stamp of approval for legitimacy,” Hon. Chitando asserted.
Chitando also spoke about the glaring omission from the SADC Summit discussions—the SADC Election Observer Mission report. Despite its importance, the report was neither mentioned nor disapproved during the summit. “Every ZANU-PF supporter must ask themselves why the Summit never mentioned or disapproved the SADC Election Observer Mission’s report. It is still a bull elephant in the room,” he stated, suggesting that this issue will haunt Mnangagwa throughout his term as SADC chairperson.
The SADC Observer Mission Report made it clear that the election violated the Zimbabwean constitution and fell short of the requirements of SADC Principles and Guidelines that govern democratic elections of SADC member states
According to Hon. Chitando, Mnangagwa’s term as SADC chairperson is poised to be a “humiliation,” as the unresolved 2023 elections dispute and the SADC Observer Mission Report is likely to be discussed and possibly endorsed during his tenure. He criticized the ZANU-PF’s actions in the run-up to the summit, calling it “shameful to arrest and torture fellow citizens just to get a ceremonial chairmanship.”
Finally, Chitando argumented the limited power that comes with the SADC chairmanship, describing it as “a chairman of only a title, nothing more.” He pointed out that Mnangagwa’s new role does not grant him significant authority, such as deploying troops for peacekeeping missions and after a year, he will have achieved little beyond holding the title.
