The recent Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit held in Zimbabwe has been marred by controversy and unrest, with civic society organisations (CSOs) describing the country as a „war zone“ during the event. The CSOs held a human rights, democracy, and governance symposium in Harare as part of the main summit, where they expressed their concerns about the shrinking operating environment for civil society.
Dzikamai Bere, the national director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights), highlighted the challenges faced by CSOs in organizing such events, citing a low turnout due to fears of intimidation by unidentified individuals. He emphasized that the crackdown on civil society was a violation of freedom of assembly and expression, particularly in the context of the SADC Treaty.
The situation was further exacerbated by the presence of political prisoners and pro-democracy campaigners languishing in jails, highlighting the regime’s intolerant attitude towards dissenting voices. This crackdown on activists and political opponents has raised concerns about the state of democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe, especially as the country assumes the chairmanship of the regional bloc.
Thabo Masuku, the executive director at Eswatin’s Foundation for Socio-Economic Justice, echoed similar sentiments, pointing out the challenges faced by CSOs in Swaziland, where political parties are banned and civic society space is repressed. He highlighted the recent passing of the Suppression of Terrorism Act appeal, which further restricts the rights of individuals and stifles dissenting voices.
The symposium attendees expressed disappointment at the lack of progress in promoting human rights, democracy, and governance in the region, despite universal values that should be upheld by all SADC member states. The contrast between the peaceful intentions of the CSOs and the government’s crackdown on activists paints a stark picture of the challenges faced by civil society in advocating for change and accountability.
As Zimbabwe assumes the chairmanship of the SADC, there is a growing need for the government to address the concerns raised by CSOs and ensure that human rights and democratic principles are upheld. The international community will be closely watching how the country navigates these challenges and whether it can lead by example in promoting a more inclusive and transparent society.