The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has ignored the petition by Zimbabwe’s opposition parties and instead endorsed President Emmerson Mnangagwa and called for the removal of sanctions.
This comes after the opposition parties said they had written to the SADC chairperson, informing him of the political situation in the country following violent attacks and deaths of more than a dozen civilians. However, SADC chair, Dr Hage Geingob has ignored the opposition’s calls for a thorough investigation on the violence and instead expressed solidarity with President Mnangagwa’s government and called for the International community to lift all sanctions on the country.
Geingob said Mnangagwa’s government was trying to address the challenges faced in the country while being faced by opposition from Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) trying to destabilise the country.
“The SADC Heads of State and Government noted that since coming to power, the new Government of Zimbabwe has continued with concerted efforts to address socioeconomic challenges and transform the economy, particularly through the Zimbabwe Transitional Stabilization Programme (2018-2020), and to consolidate unity and peace in the country.
“This, notwithstanding, some internal groups, in particular NGOs, supported by external forces, have continued with efforts to destabilise the country,” he said.
“In an effort to address the economic challenges in the country, the Government recently increased fuel prices. Unfortunately, violent demonstrators rode on the back of increases in fuel prices, to implement their intention to destabilise the country. The demonstrations resulted in the destruction of property and loss of life. SADC condemns, in the strongest terms, the violence that ensued, and expresses sympathy with the affected families for the loss of their loved ones and their properties.
“The chair also commended efforts by the Government to transform the economy and bring about prosperity and condemned the ‘illegal’ sanctions imposed on the country and said it is in solidarity with the government and people of Zimbabwe.”