Zimbabwe to Host SADC Summit Amid Controversies and Calls for Venue Change

South Africa is backing Zimbabwe as the host for the upcoming Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit, despite widespread international concern over human rights violations in the lead-up to the regional event. The SADC annual summit, which brings together 16 member countries, is scheduled to convene in Harare this week with Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa serving as the chairperson.

Clayson Monyela, head of public diplomacy at the Department of International Relations & Cooperation, emphasized South Africa's position stating that the country has no mandate to alter the summit's location and expressed willingness to facilitate peaceful dialogue to address political challenges. This commitment comes amid a backdrop of intensified suppression by Zimbabwe's government against critical voices.

In preparation for the summit, which also features a SADC industrial week and preceding council meetings, a significant crackdown on opposition and activists has taken place. Reports from international watchdogs, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, detail detentions and mistreatment of opposition figures, students, and journalists, painting a grim picture of the democratic landscape in Zimbabwe.

The central business district and townships of Harari are under close surveillance, with military vehicles patrolling and the government issuing stern warnings against any attempts to utilize the summit as a platform to showcase the regime's faults. Allan Ngari from Human Rights Watch and Khanyo Farise from Amnesty International called for an immediate end to the government's assault on free expression and peaceful activism.

Despite these disturbing reports, the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) spokesperson on international relations, Emma Powell, criticized the decision to continue with Harare as the venue, arguing it violates the principles upon which SADC was founded and undermines international law. She demanded a stance from South Africa to uphold democratic values by advocating the summit be moved.

The strain highlighted by these events paints a complex picture for SADC members as they grapple with balancing respect for sovereignty against the need to uphold human rights and democratic practices. The ongoing events in Zimbabwe will undoubtedly shape discussions at the SADC Summit, as the international community looks on with vigilant eyes.