Beatrice Kumbana Political Reporter
Zimbabwe —In one of his speeches last year, President Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa proudly declared,
“We are all SADCshis to the extent we are SADCshi.”
But as Zimbabwe’s term at the helm of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ends, the nation’s own economic troubles have many wondering whether our state of SADC-on-position has quietly stripped us of that title.
While regional leaders applaud Mnangagwa’s chairmanship, many Zimbabweans are asking a harder question
If our president has been such a strong leader abroad, why do ordinary citizens still feel so little change at home?
Regional Achievements on Paper
Hon. Webster Shamu, speaking in Parliament, hailed Mnangagwa’s tenure as Chairman of SADC from August 2024 to August 2025 as
“strong and unifying.”
He pointed to major infrastructure and policy achievements
Completion of the Beitbridge–Harare–Chirundu Highway and upgrades at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, aimed at boosting trade and transport.
Hosting the 7th SADC Industrialisation Week, focusing on youth entrepreneurship and regional manufacturing.
Expansion of the Education 5.0 programme to encourage research, agricultural innovation, and food security.
Support for election monitoring missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar.
Launch of SADC’s first Summit on Conservation, linking environmental care with tourism and local community benefits.
The SADC Executive Secretary praised Zimbabwe’s leadership as “effective and forward looking,” and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa recognized Mnangagwa’s efforts to promote regional stability.
Progress or Public Relations?
Yet away from summit halls and ribbon-cuttings, the picture looks different.
“Highways are great, but I can’t even afford bus fare,”
says Tafadzwa Moyo, a shop assistant in Gweru.
“We hear about development on TV, but prices keep rising, salaries stay low, and jobs are disappearing.”
Economist Dr. Nkosilathi Sibanda warns that infrastructure alone will not fix the economy:
“Modern roads help trade — but if industries are idle and unemployment is over 80%, these gains don’t trickle down. Without real economic reform, projects risk becoming showcases rather than lifelines.”
The Education 5.0 programme, credited for encouraging entrepreneurship, has yielded success stories in agriculture and small-scale manufacturing.
But teachers’ unions report underfunding in schools, while graduates still face scarce opportunities.
A Leadership Transition
At the 45th SADC Summit in Antananarivo on 17 August 2025, President Mnangagwa handed the chairmanship to President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar, as Mauritius formally joined SADC, expanding the bloc to 15 states.
Hon. Shamu praised Mnangagwa for leaving the regional bloc “stronger and more united,” urging Zimbabweans to celebrate his record.
But analysts caution against confusing regional prestige with domestic progress.
“Leadership abroad is valuable,” Dr. Sibanda adds, “but the ultimate measure is whether Zimbabweans are materially better off than they were a year ago. If the answer is no, we must ask why.”
Hon. Shamu insists that Zimbabwe’s role at SADC proves the country can “deliver results and inspire unity.” Citizens, however, are waiting to see if summit achievements can translate into affordable food, decent wages, and reliable services.
As the SADC chairmanship passes to Madagascar, Zimbabwe faces a sobering truth:
International praise cannot substitute for local prosperity. Until summit headlines match village and township realities, the title of SADCshi may remain more ceremonial than lived.
Zim GBC News©2025