44th SADC Summit in Zimbabwe overshadowed by repression

Aug 11, 2024

This month, our nation hosts the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, under the theme “Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustained Economic Growth and Development Towards an Industrialised SADC.”

Regrettably, instead of engaging the public on the significance of this theme and the potential benefits it could bring to our country, the government of Zimbabwe has chosen a path of intimidation. Our streets have been flooded with armored vehicles and anxiety is high due to arbitrary arrests and intimidation. This is not a time for celebration, but rather a period marked by distress and fear among our people.

There is growing concern across the political landscape and within civic society about the government's overemphasis on security measures. This approach has escalated to such an extent that it now appears to infringe upon the fundamental rights of Zimbabwean citizens. 

The democratic space in our country has been increasingly constricted, with the police and judiciary resorting to the application of non-existent laws to detain critics of the current government. The presence of visiting dignitaries should never be an excuse to suppress or intimidate the people of this nation.

The current atmosphere of fear and repression is unsustainable and poses a grave threat to our democratic values. We must ask ourselves, is this the path we wish to tread? Does our nation not deserves better! Leadership should  embrace dialogue and respect the rule of law. The well-being of the people of Zimbabwe must be prioritised. UZA believes in tolerance, mutual engagement and total respect for the Constitution of Zimbabwe.