MNANGAGWA’S CHALLENGE OF FIGHTING FRAUD CLAIMS DESPITE SADC ROLE

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa is facing many problems with his image after being re-elected. There are claims that his victory in the 2023 Zimbabwe elections was not fair, and people have accused him of fraud. Mnangagwa hoped that by becoming the new chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), he could change this. But, his efforts have failed. He has not been able to clear his name, and the questions about his re-election remain.

Mnangagwa became Sadc chairperson through the usual rotational leadership system that Sadc uses. For him, this was a chance to influence Sadc’s view of Zimbabwe’s 2023 elections. His goal was to get Sadc to withdraw its official report on the elections. This report, which was confirmed by Sadc’s leaders during special meetings in Angola and Zambia, strongly rejected Mnangagwa’s re-election. According to the report, the elections were unfair, disputed, and flawed.

The Sadc report is very important because it shows the official stance of Sadc on Zimbabwe’s elections. The elections took place in August 2023, and Mnangagwa and his political party, Zanu PF, claimed victory. However, the process was full of problems. The Sadc election observer mission said that the election process did not meet the standards of Zimbabwe’s own constitution, and it did not follow Sadc’s rules for democratic elections.

During these elections, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema was the chairperson of the Sadc Troika of the Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security. He was responsible for overseeing Sadc’s view on elections in the region. Even though the elections were mostly peaceful, Hichilema did not remove the Sadc report on Zimbabwe’s elections. He chose former Zambian vice president Nevers Mumba to lead the Sadc observer mission in Zimbabwe, and the report was based on Mumba’s findings.

This decision by Sadc means that Mnangagwa’s legitimacy remains questioned. Sadc still recognizes the problems that were seen during Zimbabwe’s elections. According to the Sadc report, Mnangagwa is still seen as a leader who gained power through fraudulent means. This report is a reminder that Sadc noticed the problems in the election process and has made an official record of the irregularities.

Even though Mnangagwa is now Sadc chairperson, his position has not changed the way people see him as a leader. He continues to face questions about his legitimacy. His efforts to change Sadc’s stance on the elections have not worked, and his victory is still in doubt in both the region and the world. Mnangagwa may hold the title of Sadc chairperson, but the report remains, and so do the doubts.

This situation also shows how difficult it is for leaders in the region to openly stand against unfair election practices. Some leaders have not taken a strong position on Mnangagwa’s re-election. However, Hichilema’s decision to keep the Sadc report has created tension between Zambia and Zimbabwe. This has led to a diplomatic argument between the two countries. Zambia is now calling for Sadc and the African Union to help solve the problem.

In conclusion, Mnangagwa’s position as Sadc chairperson has not helped him remove the fraud claims against him. The Sadc election observer mission’s report continues to stand as the official view on Zimbabwe’s 2023 elections. Mnangagwa’s attempts to erase these claims have not worked. His leadership is still seen as illegitimate by some in the region and internationally. As long as the report remains unchanged, Mnangagwa’s leadership will continue to be questioned, and the fraud claims will remain a shadow over his presidency.