MNANGAGWA FAILS TO REMOVE FRAUD CLAIMS FROM HIS LEADERSHIP
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is struggling to remove allegations of fraud from his re-election. Even after becoming the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), he has failed to change the official Sadc position on the 2023 Zimbabwean elections. His efforts have not worked, and his legitimacy as leader is still questioned.
Mnangagwa became the chair of Sadc as part of the normal rotation system in the regional group. This gave him a chance to try and influence the withdrawal of a Sadc report on Zimbabwe’s elections. However, this plan did not succeed. The report, which was approved by a special summit in Angola and a ministerial meeting in Zambia, strongly dismissed his election victory as unfair and fraudulent.
The Sadc election report is the official record of what happened in the August 2023 elections in Zimbabwe. These elections saw Mnangagwa and his party, Zanu PF, claim victory, but there were many problems with the process. The Sadc observer mission said that the elections did not follow Zimbabwe’s own constitution or Sadc’s election rules. This means that the elections were not free and fair.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema was the chairperson of the Sadc Troika of the Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security when the elections happened. Hichilema did not attend a summit in Harare in protest, showing his disagreement with Mnangagwa’s leadership. He said that the elections held in Sadc during his time were “reasonably peaceful,” but he did not remove the Sadc election report on Zimbabwe. The report remains official.
Hichilema had chosen former Zambian vice president Nevers Mumba to lead the Sadc delegation that observed the elections in Zimbabwe. The delegation noted that the elections were flawed. Because of this, Sadc has refused to remove the report. Mnangagwa is now the leader of Sadc, but in the regional body’s official records, he is still a leader who came to power in a disputed way. The report clearly states that Sadc saw problems with Zimbabwe’s elections and recognized the irregularities.
Even after taking the chairperson role in Sadc, Mnangagwa has not gained the legitimacy he wanted. The Sadc election report still stands. This means that even though he has a high position in the regional body, his leadership is still in question. He tried to silence the allegations, but he has failed. The world still sees his leadership as controversial.
This situation has also shown that some regional leaders are unwilling to speak out against election fraud in their own countries. Hichilema’s position on Zimbabwe’s elections has caused problems between Zimbabwe and Zambia. There is now a diplomatic issue between the two countries. Zambia has called for Sadc and the African Union to step in and help resolve the matter.
In the end, Mnangagwa’s position as Sadc chairperson has not helped him remove the election fraud claims. The Sadc election observer report is still in place and remains the official view of what happened in the 2023 Zimbabwe elections. Mnangagwa’s attempts to change the story have not worked. His legitimacy is still in question, both in the region and around the world. As long as the report is there, people will continue to question his leadership.
Your report highlights serious issues with the election process, but it also shows that Mnangagwa remains a key player in regional politics. His proactive engagement in SADC, even amidst these allegations, indicates a willingness to participate in dialogue and push for reforms. That resilience is something many supporters find reassuring.
Your article underscores the complexities of Zimbabwean politics, and while the fraud allegations remain, Mnangagwa’s active role in SADC demonstrates his commitment to regional stability and cooperation. His continued participation in high-level discussions suggests that he’s not shying away from the challenges, but rather, he’s engaging with them to drive future reform.
Your coverage makes it clear that Mnangagwa’s efforts to dismiss allegations of electoral fraud are not only ineffective but are also undermining his reputation. The persistence of the SADC report, approved by independent observers, is a damning indictment of his administration’s commitment to fair governance. This is a serious blow to his legitimacy both at home and abroad.