HARARE – Zimbabwe is pulling out all the stops to host the 44th ordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit of heads of state and government in mid-August. The country is undertaking extensive preparations, including the construction of new roads and villas for delegates, the introduction of luxury coaches, the planting of new trees, and a call for a demonstration-free week. Judging by the scale of the preparations, the government sees this event as a major opportunity for image-building.
The summit will see President Emmerson Mnangagwa assume the leadership of the regional bloc from Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema. The SADC chairpersonship rotates annually, and for the military-backed regime in Harare, this is a significant occasion. “I commend the government and people of our country who are accelerating preparations and works related to the event,” Mnangagwa said on Tuesday at the burial of retired Brigadier Michael Chaminuka, a national hero.
Zimbabwe last held the SADC chair in 2014 under the late Robert Mugabe, with the summit taking place in Victoria Falls. This year’s summit, scheduled for August 17 and 18, comes just a year after a disputed general election that SADC flagged as flawed. For most of the past year, the opposition has been weakened by internal conflicts and government crackdowns on dissent.
Currently, at least 80 opposition activists are in prison on charges of plotting to incite violence, some accused of planning demonstrations d.