An opportunity to pass on great lessons to region

Dr Obert Moses Mpofu

Zimbabwe’s assumption of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) chair through President Mnangagwa presents the perfect opportunity to positively influence the region.

President Mnangagwa’s promising one-year tenure began yesterday, August 17, 2024.

There is so much for our esteemed President to impart to the region but so little time.

However, President Mnangagwa is a dedicated and hardworking leader, who never shies away from any task, no matter how daunting.  The speed with which he has turned around Zimbabwe’s economic fortunes is testament to this.

There is no doubt that the region will benefit immensely from his wealth of experience.

He is perhaps one of the very few remaining nationalists trained in the art of nation-building and is a champion of Pan-Africanism, as well as the region’s aspirations.

There can, therefore, be no doubt as to his ability to deliver.

His prowess is unquestionable.

The SADC region now has the privilege and opportunity to benefit from this.

What we now call SADC has evolved over the decades from the Frontline States, the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) to what it is now, but its aim of ensuring total emancipation and economic success amongst member states remains the same.

SADC has not wavered from its original ethos and still holds it in high esteem.

The Frontline States of old still resonate with the SADC of today.

The goal is still to develop the region.

Zimbabwe, being one of the proponents and founding members of the entity that we have come to know as SADC, has been presented with yet another opportunity to demonstrate its leadership abilities within the region.

Zimbabwe has a wealth of experience in addressing crises at the regional, continental and international levels.

This can be useful, as the region has come under siege from our detractors.

During our August 2023 elections, in which the colossal ZANU PF party and President Mnangagwa emerged victorious, our detractors made concerted efforts to taint our well-deserved victory.

With elections slated in several countries within SADC this year, it is important for member states to glean some key lessons from Zimbabwe’s experience.

It is, thus, befitting that President Mnangagwa is at the helm of SADC.

He will provide key lessons to our member states so that they do not fall victim to the machinations of our detractors.

Most importantly, SADC member states must reaffirm their commitment to each other and guard against infiltration by the enemy.

A divided people can never achieve any meaningful success.

We are each other’s keeper.

For the past two decades, we endured a lot under the weight of illegal sanctions.

However, because of the great courage and tenacity peculiar to Zimbabweans, we have emerged stronger, and we are now building our great nation “brick by brick and stone upon stone”.

Perhaps this is a blueprint for fellow SADC member states.

SADC is probably the most resource-endowed region in the world, so we should look within ourselves and develop our nations.

The decision by SADC to designate October 25 each year as Anti-Sanctions Day demonstrates a great sense of solidarity that is both selfless and commendable.

The colonial borders drawn up in Berlin by our former oppressors should not confine us.

As a region, we should start making concerted efforts to reduce the impact of these borders created by those ignorant of our ways.

Our people should be able to move freely and work wherever they choose within the region.

The idea of creating a single market that is beneficial to our people can be attained.

In SADC, there is a lot that unites than divides us. Our people are one and share a common history.

None of us would have achieved independence if we had not come together as one to fight colonialism.

There should, therefore, be no reason why we should not share a common future.

As President Mnangagwa begins his term as SADC chairperson, a new era beckons for the region.

Indeed, in President Mnangagwa, we are ably led.

Over the past few years, he has successfully championed Zimbabwe’s cause and restored our great nation to its former glory.

He is set to do equally the same with SADC now that he is at the helm of this most important regional bloc.

We should rally behind the new SADC chairperson and give him all the support he needs and deserves to execute his duties.

Dr Obert Moses Mpofu is an academic and Secretary-General of ZANU PF. He writes in his own capacity.