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Freedom Mutanda
Europe thought it bestrode the whole world like a Colossus until the African nationalists asked questions of their erstwhile colonisers in the 1950s right up to the 1990s when South Africa removed the evil regime of apartheid which never thought a day will come when an African would rule the mineral-rich African nation and take its place in the independent group of nations of Africa.
For Southern Africa, 1979 was a defining year as it made itself a profound institution which was to shape the future of all Africans in the soft belly of the Southern tip of Africa — Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC) — the precursor to the current Southern Africa Development Community which Zimbabwe and the enigmatic hero of this part of the world, Cde President Robert Mugabe, chaired this past week. To the uninitiated, President Mugabe has chaired numerous organisations that include the African Union, SADC, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Commonwealth. As an astute politician and statesman, President Mugabe has led from the front; Zimbabweans are happy to have such an able and distinguished leader.
Many things have been written about SADC and a lot will be written about it now and in the future. However, my instalment touches on the organisation’s penchant for being a brother’s keeper in solving disputes.
The US has long used arm-twisting tactics in its international relations over the years disregarding the overtures of regional powers. Panama, Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan are obvious examples, among others. In those skirmishes, the US bulldozed her way in order to get what she wanted.
Initially, the regional organisation’s major aim was to reduce trade links with apartheid South Africa, but the ultimate aim was to completely eradicate colonialism from Africa, the motherland.
Looking back, analysts can say those aims were achieved although much still needs to be done.
In 1998, Laurent Kabila, who had recently overran the foreign-backed Mobutu Sese Seko’s forces and established a nation on a socialist path modelled along the murdered Patrice Lumumba’s vision, was nearly defeated by Rwanda and Uganda-backed rebels when in days a whole swathe of the nation fell into rebel hands. For a time, there were fears that Mobutu may come back to the impoverished country and worsen the situation as he would take advantage of the situation and try a counter-revolution.
Mobutu had ruled uninterrupted since he assumed power after the Belgian Congo became a theatre of the Cold War during the restless 1960s. Notwithstanding the alleged fraud against his own people, Mobutu enjoyed unlimited support from Uncle Sam. Some analysts said the former Zaire strongman had a child who was a day scholar in France. Taxpayers’ money made that possible. The US remained a strong ally of Mobutu up to his ouster.
Today, Zimbabwe is a victim of ZIDERA although its political leadership under Cde Mugabe has never been foisted on the people of the Southern African country. Mobutu imposed himself on the people of the Congo. Food for thought that needs an instalment on its own and I will look into that another day.
SADC did not take that lying down. Zimbabwe took the lead in defending the sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Angola and Namibia followed suit. Words of scorn from everywhere castigated Zimbabwe for having initiated the defensive position so that foreign forces may not defile the seat of government of the DRC. The private media went ballistics as it documented the fall in the economy as a result of Zimbabwe defending a fellow SADC member. Prophets of discord did not want to inform people that the country had gone to help DRC under the ‘‘auspices’’ of SADC.
One wonders why people rush to blame the ZANU-PF government even when it has done a noble job. Opposition for the sake of opposition is never a development-oriented approach. Therefore, after the DRC retained its sovereignty thanks to SADC military intervention our detractors are adamant that the war made our economy take a nose dive.
So, people are never good neighbours. You see your neighbour’s house on fire and you go to the bus station, board a bus and go to your in-laws! Heartless, one may say.
Lesotho suffered a coup and SADC forces quickly brought the culprits to book. Leaders of this regional grouping have made a policy of never countenancing leaders who get to power using any other method but elections.
Fittingly, President Mugabe has been part of the Organ on Defence and Security which acts like the UN’s Security Council. Truly, Southern Africa, to a large extent, has been a beacon of peace apart from other violent clashes. This organ has used diplomacy to solve some of the seemingly difficult situations.
Zimbabwe had to be in a marriage of convenience between the revolutionary party ZANU-PF and the Western-backed MDC formations; former South Africa President Mbeki pulled all stops as a SADC point to ensure that the talks would end well for all the sides. He succeeded but it is SADC that remained hopeful that the Zimbabweans would eventually, find each other. If it was the US it would have been talking war and try to annihilate Zimbabwe.
Kudos to Cde Mbeki.
More countries in the 15-nation group live a tranquil life owing to the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters during the war. Now is the time for the organisation to show the world that it can stabilise the region and involve members of the community to bring a tranquil area.
Every time, there is an election in a member nation – Mozambique and Namibia will have theirs shortly – SADC sends observer teams to see to it that its principles on democratic issues are observed. The good thing is 35 years on, SADC continues to defend the values of the people of this beautiful nation.
As we look forward to the next 35 years of SADC existence, we look to the future with more confidence as SADC leaders plead resources for the extermination of enemies of unity; its leaders are agreed that resource nationalism cannot be wished away.
Online Reporter