MNANGAGWA’S LEGITIMACY QUESTIONED AS SADC REPORT STAYS IN PLACE

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has struggled to clear allegations of fraud around his re-election. As the new chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), Mnangagwa wanted to change Sadc’s view on the 2023 Zimbabwean elections. However, his efforts have not worked, and his legitimacy as a leader is still in question.

Mnangagwa became the chair of Sadc through the rotational leadership system within the group. This was seen as a chance for him to use his new position to push for the withdrawal of the Sadc election observer mission’s report. The report, supported by a special meeting in Angola and another in Zambia, strongly rejected Mnangagwa’s re-election. It said the election was flawed, disputed, and fraudulent.

The Sadc report remains the official stance on the elections that took place in Zimbabwe in August 2023. During these elections, Mnangagwa and his party, Zanu PF, declared themselves the winners. However, the election process was criticized as being full of irregularities. The Sadc election observer mission said that the elections did not follow Zimbabwe’s own constitution or Sadc’s principles for fair elections.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema was the head of the Sadc Troika of the Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security during the elections. Hichilema did not attend a meeting in Harare in protest of the elections. He mentioned that elections in Sadc member states during his time as head were “reasonably peaceful.” Still, he did not remove the Sadc election observer mission’s report, which he had overseen. Hichilema appointed former Zambian vice president Nevers Mumba to lead the Sadc delegation during Zimbabwe’s elections.

This means that Sadc stands by its report. According to their records, Mnangagwa is seen as a leader who came to power through fraudulent means. The report serves as a reminder that Sadc observed and documented the irregularities during the elections.

Even with his new role as Sadc chairperson, Mnangagwa has not been able to solve his legitimacy crisis. The Sadc report remains the official record of the elections. Although Mnangagwa now holds the title of Sadc chairperson, his position as a leader is still questioned by many. His attempts to silence the allegations have so far failed, and his legitimacy remains under question on the international stage.

This situation also shows that some regional leaders may not want to take strong action against undemocratic practices within their own ranks. Hichilema’s decision has created tensions between Zimbabwe and Zambia. A diplomatic conflict between the two countries has started, with Lusaka calling for Sadc and the African Union to step in and help resolve the issue.

In conclusion, Mnangagwa’s position as the new chair of Sadc has not brought him the legitimacy he was hoping for. The Sadc election observer mission’s report still stands as the official view of the flawed elections in Zimbabwe. Mnangagwa’s efforts to clear the allegations of fraud have not worked, and his legitimacy is still in doubt. As long as the report remains, Mnangagwa’s leadership will continue to be questioned, both within Sadc and on the global stage. The allegations of election fraud have not gone away, and Mnangagwa’s role as Sadc chairperson has not helped him change this. His leadership is still overshadowed by doubts and accusations.