SADC under pressure as criticism grows

By Alex Bell
21 August 2008

Zimbabwe’s National Association of NGOs has added its voice to the growing chorus of criticism aimed at the Southern African Development Community –for failing to facilitate an end to the Zimbabwean crisis at the weekend summit in South Africa.

The regional body has come under fire this week following the meeting of heads of state, which Robert Mugabe attended with his political rivals, Morgan Tsvangerai and Arthur Mutambara, in an effort for SADC to breach the deadlock in the power sharing negotiations.

The National Association of NGOs said in a statement that SADC had effectively endorsed Mugabe by inviting him, despite global pressure on SADC not to recognise the dictator as a legitimate leader. The statement said that SADC has contributed to the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe by failing “to uphold and enforce compliance with its stated commitments to democracy, rule of law and human rights”.

SADC has also been severely criticised for failing to condemn or even mention the worsening crisis in Zimbabwe, where violence has continued and an entire nation is facing starvation because of the government ban on international food aid. In a final communiqué from SADC following the weekend summit, no mention was made about the call by the United Nations, NGO forums and the MDC for the aid workers to resume their efforts in Zimbabwe. The communiqué instead urged the country’s political parties to sign outstanding agreements that will lead to a power-sharing deal “to restore political stability”, but it completely ignored the desperate humanitarian crisis.

Fambai Ngirande, spokesman for the Zimbabwe National Association of NGOs, told Newsreel on Thursday he was shocked by SADC’s approach to the glaring crisis in Zimbabwe. He said the regional body is “sending out contradictory messages” by recognising Mugabe and emphasised that the region’s future stability and reputation is on the line. He added that SADC has “failed the people of Zimbabwe” by not protecting their rights and said SADC must be tougher on leaders who gain power through unconstitutional means to prove Southern Africa is genuinely committed to a democratic ideal. He said for SADC to make amends for the damage that has so far been done, the body needs to follow in Botswana’s footsteps by proactively refusing to recognise the Mugabe regime.