WHY DID ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT SKIP IMPORTANT SADC SUMMIT?

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema did not attend the Southern African Development Community (SADC) organ troika summit in person. Instead, he joined the meeting through a video link from Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. This has made many people talk and ask why he stayed in Zambia when the summit was just a short flight away in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The SADC organ troika summit is a big meeting where leaders from the region talk about politics, security, and how to keep peace in Southern Africa. President Hichilema was the chairperson of this group, and he was supposed to hand over his position to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the summit. Since he had such an important role, many people expected him to be there in person.

But instead of traveling to Harare, he chose to stay in Lusaka and talk to the summit through a video call. This is surprising because Lusaka and Harare are very close, and it would have taken him only 30 minutes to fly there. People are now wondering why he made this choice.

So far, there has been no official reason given for his absence. This has made people start to guess why he did not go. Some think it might have something to do with the relationship between Zambia and Zimbabwe, which has not always been smooth. Others think he might have been concerned about security or his health. But because there is no explanation, nobody knows for sure.

During his video speech, President Hichilema talked about the work the SADC organ has been doing under his leadership. He spoke about how the group has helped promote democracy in the region. This includes making sure that elections are free and fair and that governments follow good leadership practices. He also talked about how the group has helped solve conflicts between countries and even inside some countries.

Hichilema said that this work is very important because it helps keep peace and stability in the region. He explained that without strong leadership and good governance, countries in Southern Africa would struggle to develop and grow. He also reminded leaders that they need to work together to solve problems.

When handing over the chairperson role to President Hassan of Tanzania, Hichilema said he believes she will do a good job. He pointed out that Tanzania has always played an important role in keeping peace in the region. He said he is sure that she will continue the work of the SADC organ and help Southern Africa become even stronger.

Even though President Hichilema spoke well at the summit, many people are still asking why he did not attend in person. Some are wondering if this is a sign that there are problems between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Others think maybe it was just a decision made for personal or security reasons. But without an official statement, nobody can say for sure.

One thing that is clear is that the work of the SADC organ is very important. There are many challenges in Southern Africa, such as making sure governments are fair, keeping elections free, and solving conflicts. Leaders in the region need to work hard to make sure their countries are stable and peaceful.

Now that President Hassan is in charge, people will be watching to see how she leads. Will she continue the work started by Hichilema? Will she bring new ideas to make the region stronger? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain—Southern Africa needs strong leadership to solve its challenges and create a better future for its people.