“I, equally, encourage all Zimbabweans to continue workinghard to ensure a peaceful, safe and welcoming environment for our visitingdelegates,” Mnangagwa said at the burial of Brigadier General (Rtd) MichaelChaminuka at the National Heroes Acre in Harare on Monday. The summit, scheduled to start from 28 July to mid-August2024, is set to be a defining moment for Mnangagwa’s leadership, a moment hedesperately needed to navigate without a stain of dissent marring his legacy. Zimbabwe is poised to take the reins of the rotational SADCchairmanship, a position that had unleashed a torrent of praise for Mnangagwafrom his party and allies, who trumpeted his supposed ‘deservedness’ for therole.
His re-election in August 2023, was marred by allegationsof widespread irregularities and fraudulent activities that were condemned byboth local and international election observers. Opposition groups and political activists, emboldened bythe perceived injustice of Mnangagwa’s victory, are poised to use the summit toregister their grievances. This is regardless of successive calls and threats by thepolice that they are ready to crush protesters during the Summit.
Home Affairs Minister Kazembe Kazembe, leaving little roomfor ambiguity, addressed the would-be protesters with a thinly veiled threat. “If you misbehave during the Summit you will bear theconsequences. Our country has laws.
His Excellency has spoken. Those with earsto hear have heard,” Kazembe said, his words dripping with a chillingimplication that dissent would be met with force. Mnangagwa, who had faced stinging criticism for theextravagant measures taken to paint a picture of prosperity for visiting headsof state – building expensive villas and undertaking rapid road rehabilitationprojects – made another appeal.
He implored all stakeholders to ensure that Zimbabwe wouldbe one of beauty and order, hoping to appease his SADC peers. “Meanwhile, I, call upon all the stakeholders, includingthe private sector, to partner my Administration and our Local Authorities toenhance the environmental ambience, cleanliness and beauty of our cities inpreparation for the Summit, and indeed into the future,” Mnangagwa said. CITE.
