The 44th Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) recently convened in Harare, Zimbabwe, brought together thirteen out of sixteen regional leaders to discuss key economic, political, and social issues affecting the region. While the summit aimed at promoting regional cooperation and development, its impact on ordinary citizens has been a subject of interest and debate.
The hosting of the SADC Summit in Zimbabwe has had a mixed impact on ordinary citizens. On one hand, the summit brought in much-needed foreign exchange and investment, creating temporary employment opportunities in the hospitality and service sectors.
Additionally, the summit’s focus on regional integration and development has raised hopes for improved economic prospects and cooperation among SADC member states. However, the summit’s extravagance and high-security measures have also had a disruptive impact on the daily lives of Harare residents, with reports of traffic congestion, road closures, and displacement of vendors and informal traders.
Furthermore, critics argue that the summit’s benefits have largely accrued to the elite, while the majority of Zimbabweans continue to grapple with economic hardship, poverty, and political uncertainty.Addressing journalist and residents during a Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) press club sessions yesterday in Mutare, United Mutare Residents and Ratepayers Trust (UMMRT) programmes director Edison Dube indicated that Government tightened security in the country ahead of the Summit.
Dube explained that the issue of security became topical around the build up to the Summit and there was euphoria among some political players with others trying to downplay this important event in the country.
“The curfews that were imposed on residents affected business, vendors and even bus operators. Some suspended their business plans because of the uncertainty around the SADC Summit. There were differing opinions among residents on the importance of the Summit’ chairmanship.
This then polarized communities, so there was a lot of political contestation and it is important to note that one of the strongest opposition in the country (Citizens Coalition for Change) went underground,” Dube highlighted.
He noted that soon after the SADC Summit the Zimbabwe Gold currency (ZIG) crashed to unprecedented levels.
Mutare Informal Traders Association (MITA) president Itai Kariparire weighed in saying while the hosting of the Summit was plausible their worry was on the violations of human rights during the run up to the Summit.
“We were looking forward that human rights are costs responsibilities. Government in hosting this event did not consider how the Summit would affect an ordinary layman. There were a lot of demolitions on illegal tuckshops, vendors being chased away,” Kariparire said.
