adminMuchadura Dube
IN ordinary parlance, peace signifies the absence of war, which is generally a correct posture, for war has proved to be a menace in the existence of mankind.
The prevalence of a tranquil environment enables the nation to fulfill its obligations to its citizens.
It is the duty of any incumbent government to provide for its citizens in the social and economic spheres.
The governments of member states of SADC are not exempted from that responsibility. For that to be possible, peace has to be pervasive.
SADC has been a breath of fresh air in that arena since the then apartheid South Africa attained its independence in 1994.
The SADC leadership has to consolidate the winds of peace engulfing the region as they meet at the 34th Heads of States and Government meeting at the magnificent resort town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
It should be reinforced that peace is the sole ingredient which can guarantee stability and socio–economic growth of a nation. Any governments which underestimate the significance of peace are not worth being at the helm of the political levers of any country.
The region should therefore remain as the doyen and oasis of peace so as to attract investors in their diversity. Peace will enable SADC to realise its long held dream of being the economic hub of the continent and even beyond. SADC has to attend to the Mozambique debacle where the former rebel movement, Renamo, has on several occasions attempted to destabilise this mineral rich country by reviving its retrogressive activities, which boarder on outright criminality. If Renamo has genuine complaints, it should be reminded that the only route which civilised people pursue is dialogue.
The region has to categorically demand from Alfonso Dhlakama and his cahoots to cease their mercenary activities in Central Mozambique or risk the full wrath of the SADC military brigade, which stands ready to quell such illegalities that have claimed lives of innocent citizens.
The recent events in Mozambique, however, usher hope of a peaceful resolution as the former rebel movement has seen sense in negotiating, hence the landmark agreement with regards to the manner in which that country’s elections are to be conducted in October 2014.
Recently, the ruling party in Mozambique’s Presidential candidate in the forthcoming polls, Cde Felipe Nyusi, visited various African countries on a familiarisation tour. Cde Nyusi made a courtesy call on President Mugabe, the incoming SADC chairperson, the hope being that he imbibed the craftsmanship of handling such intricate matters from the legendary and iconic statesman. Frelimo and Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu-PF are revolutionary movements whose solid bonds have withstood the test of time, hence Frelimo’s Cde Nyusi will always have a reliable partner in Zanu-PF.
The leadership of SADC should therefore send a strong message to the Renamo leadership that any breaches to peace in that fellow SADC country will not be viewed lightly. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has had challenges in its vast border areas in the Northern part where rebels, sponsored by some of its neighbours, have wreaked havoc as they attempt to create an enclave that will serve as a foothold towards controlling the abundant minerals of this great nation. SADC brought peace to this country by launching Operation Sovereign Legitimacy (OSLEG), which saw Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola coming to the rescue of a fellow member state whose existence was endangered by foreign elements that were allegedly sponsored by the West in its bid to have a stranglehold in the economic issues of that country.
The West had hoped to achieve this through regime change in that country. SADC managed to repel the rebel forces, much to the chagrin of the Western forces who witnessed their project crumbling like a deck of cards as their sponsored rebels were pounded by the vicious forces to eternal submission.
The now-weak rebel imbeciles have now resorted to raping defenseless women and girls in Northern Kivu area, a scenario which demands unanimous condemnation from all progressive forces. It should stop forthwith! Who ever is fingered in these gross human-rights violations should be held accountable in these crimes against humanity. It is therefore crucial for the SADC Heads of States and Government meeting in Victoria Falls in the coming days to spare a thought for these innocent civilians who count on them for their safety and survival. At least the sanctity of life must be respected even among warring parties as governed by international protocols of conflict management.
The recent discovery of arms caches in the Mazowe area of Zimbabwe in the hands of a Chinese national by alert security personnel should therefore save as a reminder of the existence of rotten and corrupt apples within the security service organisations, which need to be rooted out. Those few malcontents are a major security threat and should face lengthy incarceration if found guilty for they are an abomination to the community at large. The authorities must also ensure that such sensitive security establishments are regularly audited as a deterrent to would-be perpetrators of crimes within the security services.
Zimbabwe takes pride in its solid, impeccable peace credentials, hence such reports of security breaches should be treated seriously. The peace which the SADC region largely enjoys should be jealously safeguarded and consolidated.
It is the bedrock on which the region can use as the springboard for economic growth, which the citizens of the member states yearn for. This peace is a culmination of protracted struggles against colonial bondage by the heroic people of the region.
It is, therefore, incumbent upon us the living, to entrench and bequeath this legacy of peace to the next generation.
Online Reporter