ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT SKIPS IMPORTANT SADC SUMMIT, SPARKING QUESTIONS

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema made a surprising choice recently when he decided not to attend the Southern African Development Community (SADC) organ troika summit in person. Instead, he addressed the summit through a video call from Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. This move has led to many discussions and questions, as Zambia and Zimbabwe have sometimes had tense relations in the past.

The SADC organ troika summit is an important event. It brings together leaders from the region to talk about politics, defense, security cooperation, and other matters that are important for Southern Africa. This year’s summit had extra significance because Hichilema was serving as the outgoing chairperson of the SADC organ on politics, defense, and security cooperation. He was expected to hand over the chairmanship to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at this summit.

But even though the summit was a big event, President Hichilema did not make the trip to Harare, Zimbabwe, where it was held. Instead, he stayed in Lusaka and connected to the summit through video. This is surprising to many because Lusaka is only about a 30-minute flight from Harare. People are wondering why he did not make such a short trip.

There has been no official statement explaining why Hichilema did not travel to Harare. This has caused many to speculate about the reasons. Some think it could be related to the sometimes complicated relationship between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Others believe there might have been security or health reasons that made him decide not to attend in person, but nothing has been confirmed by the government.

When President Hichilema spoke during the summit through the video link, he focused on the important achievements made by the SADC organ during his time as chairperson. He talked about efforts to build democracy, resolve conflicts, and keep the region safe and stable. These are important goals for the peace and prosperity of Southern Africa.

Hichilema spoke about the SADC organ’s work in promoting democracy. This includes supporting free and fair elections in member states and pushing for good governance. He also talked about the work done in conflict mediation, where the SADC organ helps countries in the region resolve disputes peacefully. Hichilema said that this work is essential for keeping the region stable.

After his speech, Hichilema handed over the chairmanship to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. He expressed his confidence in her ability to continue the work of the SADC organ. He praised Tanzania’s long history of helping to maintain peace and stability in Southern Africa and said he believes the organ will continue to grow under her leadership.

But even with Hichilema’s speech and the handover of the chairmanship, his decision not to attend the summit in person has left many questions unanswered. Some people wonder if there are deeper problems between Zambia and Zimbabwe that could explain why he stayed away. Others think it might have been a simple matter of convenience or caution, but without an official explanation, it is hard to say for sure.

What is clear is that the work of the SADC organ is crucial for the region. Promoting democracy, resolving conflicts, and ensuring security are major challenges that need strong leadership. President Hichilema’s remarks during the summit showed his dedication to these goals, even though his absence in Harare raised some eyebrows.

Now, with President Hassan as the new chairperson, all eyes will be on her to see how she leads the SADC organ. Many will be interested to see if she continues to push forward the work started by Hichilema in promoting democracy, peace, and security in Southern Africa.

As the region continues to face challenges, the leadership of the SADC organ will be important in finding solutions and guiding the region towards stability and growth. The work done by the leaders at this summit will have lasting impacts on the future of Southern Africa.