ZIMBABWE’S GRAND PLAN TO IMPRESS SADC: WILL IT WORK?
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is making big changes in Harare. The city is getting ready to host the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit this August. Roads are being fixed, and fancy villas are being built. This summit is important for politics in the region. It will happen either at the new Parliament Building in Mount Hampden or at the Hyatt Regency Harare, a hotel that was once called The Meikles.
These changes come after some problems. Last year, Mnangagwa and his party, Zanu PF, won the election, but many people, including leaders from SADC, didn’t agree with the results. They openly rejected Mnangagwa’s victory. This put pressure on Mnangagwa’s government, and now he is trying to show both the people in Zimbabwe and the international community that he is still in control.
What Mnangagwa is doing is not new. Many leaders in Africa do the same. They spend a lot of money on big projects to look good in front of other countries, while the real problems of their people are ignored. Leaders want to be seen as strong and successful, even if their country is struggling. They think these big projects will make other countries take them seriously and give them more power.
In Zimbabwe, this is very clear. The government is spending a lot of money on fancy buildings and roads for the summit. But the basic needs of the people are not being fixed. Things like healthcare, education, and other services are still in bad shape. Many roads in other parts of the country are not being fixed, and people are still dealing with inflation and unemployment.
People who disagree with the government think these changes are a waste of money. They say the money should be used to help the people instead of making Harare look good for visitors. They believe that this is only being done to make the country seem like it’s doing well, but it’s just for show. Many think these projects are just for the rich and powerful, while regular Zimbabweans continue to struggle.
Yes, hosting a summit like SADC can make a country look good to the rest of the world. But what happens after the event? The roads and buildings might look nice, but they won’t fix the everyday problems Zimbabweans face, like the lack of jobs, rising prices, and poor healthcare. If the government does not address these issues, then the summit won’t change anything for the people of Zimbabwe.
The situation in Zimbabwe shows how some governments focus more on looking good in front of other countries than fixing problems at home. It’s an example of how leaders sometimes care more about showing off than solving real problems. People want jobs, education, and better healthcare. They don’t need fancy roads or expensive hotels if their lives don’t improve.
As the summit gets closer, people are watching Zimbabwe closely. Will Mnangagwa use this chance to win back support from other countries and his own people? Or will this event only show how out of touch the government is with the real problems people are facing?
In the end, true leadership isn’t about big projects or fancy events. It’s about making sure that the people of a country are taken care of. Leaders must remember that the respect and trust of their people come from helping them live better lives. Zimbabwe is at a crossroads, and many are hoping that this time, the government will start focusing on what really matters—the well-being of its people.
