Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka
Zimpapers Politics Hub
AS President Mnangagwa’s tenure as SADC Chairperson, which commenced on August 17, 2024, draws to a close, his leadership will be cherished for having left a lasting legacy, as it was crucial in maintaining commitment to bringing much-needed peace and stability to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Throughout his Chairmanship, President Mnangagwa led the push for peace in the DRC.
In his addresses during all sessions of the Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, he consistently reaffirmed the bloc’s unwavering commitment to fostering peace and stability.
This included his calls for intensified efforts to secure a lasting resolution in the region, particularly in eastern DRC. In a significant move, President Mnangagwa, in his capacity as SADC Chairperson, recently engaged his East African Community (EAC) counterpart, Kenyan President William Ruto, to address the escalating conflict and worsening humanitarian crisis.
The co-chairs of the Joint EAC-SADC Summit resolved to create a unified, Africa-led peace initiative for the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
To achieve this, they passed resolutions to merge the mediation and secretariat structures of the EAC and African union into a single, unified effort led by the AU in Addis Ababa.
To advance the initiative, they formally appointed a panel of five facilitators, who are mandated to use their extensive negotiation skills and experience to usher in lasting peace.
The panel consists of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Catherine Samba-Panza (Central African Republic), Sahle-Work Zewde (Ethiopia) and Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi (Botswana).
According to President Mnangagwa, this collaboration demonstrated the two blocs’ collective commitment to the peaceful resolution of the conflict and the consolidation of peace and security across the continent at large.
“Collaboration between your esteemed panel of facilitators, the African Union and the SADC and EAC regional blocs, is key in delivering a lasting solution to this conflict that has negatively impacted the lives and livelihoods of the people of eastern DRC, for far too long,” he said.
“Allow me to underscore my readiness, and that of our two regional blocs, to constantly engage with you and facilitate your important work, until peace and stability are realised in eastern DRC.
“I wish to, once again, sincerely thank our panel of facilitators, the revered Statesmen and women, for accepting the onerous responsibility to find an enduring solution to the conflict in eastern DRC. Through your astute leadership, we remain hopeful that our two regions and indeed, the continent, will finally help to achieve peace, relief and reconciliation in the eastern DRC, with it, recovery and ultimately, sustainable development.”
The President added that it was important for African leaders to take the lead in restoring peace in eastern DRC, as they are familiar with the complexities of the situation.
“We empathise with the daily struggles of our brothers and sisters in their cherished desire for enduring peace, security and development. We are therefore, confident that as facilitators, your collective wisdom, expansive experience and leadership pedigree will be invaluable to the ensuing processes.
“Let us move forward with positive optimism, towards unlocking existing bottlenecks, building confidence and restoring trust among all stakeholders, as we address the root causes of the protracted conflict,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said it is important and urgent to broker a comprehensive and inclusive permanent ceasefire that involves all relevant parties. Such a step, he said, is essential for the delivery of the much-needed humanitarian assistance and to lay a firm foundation for lasting peace for the people of eastern DRC.
“As we implement the outcomes of the Joint EAC-SADC Summit, we are privileged to build on the strong foundations and gains achieved under the Nairobi and Luanda peace processes.
“This historic Joint EAC-SADC briefing provides a platform to have a shared understanding of the matters at hand and the enormity of the mission ahead. The need for support and solidarity beyond our two regions is indisputable. Collaboration and synergies with other institutions such as the United Nations and the African Union Commission will be key, given their vital role in facilitating the execution of your mandate,” he said.
This shows President Mnangagwa’s tenure as SADC Chairperson to be a proactive and decisive leader committed to a collaborative, Africa-led approach to regional security.
He didn’t just maintain the status quo; he actively pursued solutions for the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
His actions highlight a strategic focus on unity, as evidenced by his engagement with his EAC counterpart and the subsequent creation of a unified peace initiative. The appointment of a panel of five experienced facilitators further demonstrates a practical, results-oriented leadership style, prioritising tangible steps toward lasting peace over mere rhetoric. This commitment was consistently expressed in his public remarks. For instance, in his opening remarks at the joint SADC-EAC summit in Tanzania in February this year, President Mnangagwa urged African leaders not to fail their people as they deliberate on finding a lasting solution to the DRC crisis.
Similarly, in his address for the annual commemoration of Southern Africa Liberation Day on March 23, he called on the region to intensify efforts to promote peace and dialogue, recognising that escalating tensions in the DRC pose a significant threat to regional stability.
He warned that continued instability in eastern DRC contradicts the vision of SADC’s founding fathers and threatens the objectives outlined in the bloc’s founding statutes.
“As we commemorate this annual event, SADC remains a relatively calm and peaceful region,” he said. “For this, we are proud. However, I reiterate our call for lasting peace in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“The situation in eastern DRC undermines the aspirations bequeathed to us by our founding fathers and outlined in the SADC Constitutive Act and Vision 2050.
“The time to silence the guns, de-escalate tensions and hostilities as well as to engage in dialogue to secure mediated outcomes for long-lasting peace in DRC is now.”
These efforts are a testament to President Mnangagwa’s commitment to regional peace and stability. His leadership has kept the DRC crisis at the forefront of the SADC agenda and driven concrete actions toward a lasting solution.
Political analyst and media academic Mr Methuseli Moyo said President Mnangagwa’s Chairmanship should be praised for its focus on peace and stability in the DRC.
He said this particular achievement will intersect with and potentially define his broader legacy as a regional leader and it will be remembered in the context of SADC’s history.
“Peace is priceless, and the war in the eastern DRC remains a dark spot for the region,” said Mr Moyo. “It is commendable that SADC, under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, has applied itself fully to the peace process in the eastern DRC, and he hands over power at a time when there has been a de-escalation or even cessation of hostilities in the DRC.
“We hope the incoming chair will continue from where President Mnangagwa left off and ensure sustainable peace and stability in the DRC, and indeed the whole region.”
Mr Moyo said President Mnangagwa’s leadership style had also fostered a greater sense of unity and shared purpose among SADC member states.
“SADC is one big family and economy and it was pleasing to see the chair consolidating that spirit. President Mnangagwa did all he could to foster that spirit by being calm and cautious even in anxious moments between and among neighbours. SADC states need each other and can only prosper as a unit,” he said.
It is important to note that as President Mnangagwa prepares to hand over the SADC Chairmanship to Madagascar’s President Andry Rajoelina, his tenure is widely credited with championing regional peace initiatives.
His focus on peace and stability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is seen as a key achievement that will define his legacy as a regional leader.
Beyond peace and stability, President Mnangagwa’s tenure is also credited with significant strides in institutional strengthening and regional cooperation.
He oversaw the acquisition of a permanent SADC Secretariat Headquarters in Botswana, providing a vital institutional home for the bloc. Furthermore, he presided over the ground-breaking of the SADC Regional Logistics Depot, a crucial step in enhancing the region’s capacity for rapid response to humanitarian and security crises.
These achievements, combined with his leadership style that fostered a greater sense of unity and shared purpose, underscore a chairmanship that has left a tangible and lasting impact on the region.
