Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa says Zimbabweans must look beyond the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to address the political and economic crisis in the country.
Zimbabwe will next week host the 44th Sadc summit in Harare, which will see President Emmerson Mnangagwa becoming the ceremonial head of the regional body for one year.
After last year’s disputed elections, a lot of Zimbabweans placed their faith on Sadc to intervene after the block’s observer mission concluded that the polls did not meet regional standards.
The issue did not gain traction after liberation movements in the region rallied in Mnangagwa’s corner.
Nelson Chamisa, who accused Mnangagwa of rigging the polls, continues to demand action from Sadc. He has written to Sadc twice since the August 2023 elections seeking its intervention.
Chamisa told The Standard in an exclusive interview that Sadc as a “referee” should not stop players from playing if it fails to make certain decisions.
“Sadc is not the ultimate answer to the problems we are facing,” he said.
“We must fix our challenges and find answers to our questions. But Sadc is not the ultimate or the whole answer. God is.
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“His eye is upon Zimbabwe and his hand will move swiftly on this beloved land. Sadc is a platform.
“We are the answers to the questions ourselves. Sadc is just a referee, but if a referee chooses not to play their role, it doesn't mean that the players stop playing.
“You play, but you know that you are on your own.”
Chamisa, who dumped CCC early this year citing alleged infiltration by Zanu PF, insisted that the solution to Zimbabwe’s problems was free and fair elections.
“We should know how to conduct proper and consensus national processes and institutions,” he said.
“What we have is an improper situation because we have an improper government. It’s only a proper government that can respond to the proper concerns of the citizens.
“The economy must be effective, performing, productive, and responding to the needs of the people of Zimbabwe.
“But the economy will never respond to the needs of the workers, to the expectations of business and investors — it will never be possible because the leadership is not properly wired.
“It is the leadership that's broken. The only way to address that is to have real leaders who have the mandate of the people.
“And that's why we must have proper processes that produce proper leaders.
“We must continue fighting until we get it. That's why it's a struggle. It's never a walk in the park, It’s not instant coffee or picking pumpkins.”
He vowed to address the political dispute before 2028 when the next election is due according to the country’s constitution.
