SADC poised for greater times

Muchadura Dube Post Correspondent
CURRENTLY, the iconic statesman, President Mugabe of Zimbabwe, deputizes Malawian President, Professor Peter Mutharika, on the Chairmanship of Southern African Development Community (SADC). SADC symbolises the cohesion and unity of member states of the region. The countries share to some extent homogenous cultures, with marriage links pervading the whole region.

The relationship of member countries to SADC also has unique political relationships which date to the era when respective liberation parties fought tooth and nail to dislodge the vicious colonial regimes whose thrust was political subjugation and plundering of natural resources in order for them to satisfy the whims and caprices of their countries of origin.

The famous and heroic Chama Cha Mapinduzi of Tanzania rings loud when such rich history is narrated. Tanzania was the backbone of the liberation struggles of the region and even at continental scale, and then Mwalimu Julius Nyerere was at the helm. May his soul rest in eternal peace!

In the context of Zimbabwe, Mozambique’s Frelimo waged a double-edged war as the Samora Machel-led guerilla outfit fought the Portuguese while simultaneously confronting the supremely armed racist Rhodesians.

Angola had the compact and formidable MPLA, with the Zambian struggle being led by the maverick Kenneth Kaunda, South Africa had the African National Congress (ANC) prosecuting the struggle, Namibia had the South Western Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) spearheading the struggle and Zimbabwe had Zanu-PF and PF-Zapu pummelling the stubborn Ian Douglas Smith and his racist acolytes into submission leading to the 1980 Independence celebrations.

These liberation parties collaborated at various levels to secure their respective countries’ independence; these relationships have grown in leaps and bounds to this day. SADC countries have unity rooted historically hence their association will always withstand any challenges which beset the region.

The region has experienced peace, save for the sporadic skirmishes which have of late engulfed the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Any analyst following the events in the region will conclude that the skirmishes in DRC can be instantly halted given the military prowess and the diplomatic capabilities of the region’s astute leadership. SADC has tried and tested member-state armies which at one point combined to usher peace in the then turmoil ridden Great Lakes region. The regional alliance’s military escapades during the Operation Legitimacy era left even the perennially errant voices of the region’s detractors green with envy.

To this day, the region enjoys peace and the region’s leadership continues to preach the language of tolerance, upholding of dialogue as the ultimate conflict-resolution tool. The region is poised for greater times economically as Zimbabwe, the region, the continent and the globe’s leading light in the empowerment crusade takes over the leadership of SADC.

Zimbabweans under the able leadership of Africa’s eminent son, President Mugabe, have embarked on massive empowerment schemes whose motive is to ensure the hitherto marginalised majority have a share of the country’s wealth. President Mugabe is a proponent of economic policies that are pro-poor and he is the architect of Zimbabwe’s economic renaissance which is anchored on judicious exploitation of resources for the benefit of the citizens.

The revolutionary icon is also an advocate of a totally economic independent region which has the destiny of its member countries in its control.

President Mugabe has resisted the continuous economic subjugation of Third World countries by the raging West at various fora, especially at the United Nations.

Isn’t it then a blessing for the region to have such a visionary in their midst and who is on the verge of taking over the reins of SADC at its August heads of state and government summit scheduled for the magnificent tourist wonder, the mighty Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe’s prime tourist destination?

The heads of states and government and their entourages will be treated to the finest of the nation’s typical and permanent hospitality.
Zimbabweans are a hospitable people; the region will enjoy the immense splendour of one of the world’s wonders whilst at the same time celebrating the ascendancy to the region’s chairmanship of one of Africa’s leading luminaries, President Mugabe.

Those with a decent memory will remember how the British and Americans at the behest of their local foot soldier, the MDC-T, unleashed diabolic and satanic economic sanctions which stand to this day.

The hope of the British and Americans was to effect illegal regime change and replace the revolutionary Zanu-PF Government with a pliable and retrogressive puppet regime fronted by their surrogate, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.

With President Mugabe at the helm, these sanctions have been effectively busted, much to the chagrin of Mr Tsvangirai and his handlers.
The West wanted Zimbabweans to rise against their government due to the biting effects of these heinous manoeuvres.

All their machinations came to naught as President Mugabe and his party of liberation, Zanu-PF, managed to successively win the hearts of the populace in successive elections following the enactment of the illegal sanctions.

Zanu-PF is the liberation party; it has now emerged to be the party of economic emancipation.
In essence it is the biblical Moses, giving the Egyptians their only option, which is total liberty.

Given that Zimbabwe will assume the chairmanship of the august body, certainly with President Mugabe’s credentials of a liberator of repute, SADC is to be the preferred destination of international capital given the pervasive serenity which is a permanent feature.

With Zimbabwe assuming the chairmanship and naturally President Mugabe being at the helm, at last SADC will be a practically sovereign body whose calling shall be the aspirations of Africans domiciled in the region and beyond.

Certainly SADC and indeed Africa has come of age to be its own supreme authority.
May God bless the motherland, Africa!