It’s disappointing when the media sensationalizes or misrepresents key events, detracting from their significance with frivolous narratives. Yesterday’s 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in Harare, became a prime example of this distortion.
Contrary to some reports, there was no “Mnangagwa SADC Party.” This was a regional event, not a Zimbabwean one, and certainly not a Mnangagwa-centric gathering.
The media, by falsely framing it as such, diminishes the importance of the summit and the spirit of regional cooperation it represents.
The summit brought together 13 out of the 16 heads of state from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), meaning only three heads were absent—an impressive turnout by any measure.
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The missing leaders did not skip the event haphazardly; they delegated representation, which is standard practice in multilateral settings. There is no reasonable basis to suggest the event was poorly attended, as the presence of most heads of state confirms its importance and success.
Secondly, the characterization of Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema’s absence as a “snub” of Zimbabwe or President Mnangagwa is a gross exaggeration and factually misleading.
If anything, the attempt to paint Hichilema’s absence in such terms reflects a failure to grasp the nature of such multilateral gatherings. SADC summits are not platforms for personal vendettas or petulance; they are opportunities for regional dialogue on shared economic, political, and developmental goals.
Personalizing interstate relations reduces the level of discourse and undermines the very principles that SADC, an organization founded on fostering unity and cooperation, stands for.
Had President Hichilema intended to send a message through his non-attendance, it would not have been directed at Zimbabwe or Mnangagwa personally, but at the SADC Summit itself—a move that would not reflect well on his regional standing.
However, such speculation is unnecessary and distracting from the real point. States, not individuals, are the members of SADC, and Zambia’s representation at the summit was what truly mattered. Indeed, Zambia, a founding member of SADC, ensured its presence at the event, as was expected.
President Hichilema, while respected in his own country, is not a leader of such regional consequence that his attendance—or lack thereof—at a SADC event should be overstated.
Multilateral summits are designed to facilitate the presence and participation of states, regardless of which individual is at the helm. Zambia’s participation at the 44th SADC Summit was sufficient to demonstrate its continued engagement with the regional body.
Ultimately, the essence of the event lies in the collective presence of the member states, not the presence of specific leaders. The success of the summit should not be diminished by the media’s tendency to dramatize individual absences or inflate personal rivalries.
SADC remains a multilateral body, driven by its member states, and its purpose goes far beyond the attendance of any single individual. The real focus should remain on the substantial work of SADC in promoting peace, stability, and development across Southern Africa.
In conclusion, Zambia attended the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit in Harare. That is the fact that matters. Everything else is mere noise and media theatrics.
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