via Analysts pour scorn on SADC theme | The Zimbabwean 13 August 2014 by Ruzvidzo Mandizha
Political analysts say the SADC theme for 2014 is too long and irrelevant to southern Africa.
There is a suspicion that President Robert Mugabe used his influence as the incoming SADC chair to coin the theme, which echoes the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Social and Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) blueprint’s wording and thrust. “It is quite possible that the theme was imposed by Zanu (PF) using Mugabe’s chairmanship. It is far -fetched, very broad, long and maybe difficult to operationalise,” said Bulawayo based political analyst and chief executive of Habakkuk Trust, Dumisani Nkomo.
“SADC Strategy for Economic Transformation: Leveraging the Region’s Diverse Resources for Sustainable Economic and Social Development” is the title.
Another political analyst, Rejoice Ngwenya, said “The theme is not geared to sustainable development, it is long and totally irrelevant and does not support democratisation. To me it’s a waste of time,” added Ngwenya.
He questioned how the entire SADC region could possible learn lessons of economic growth from Zimbabwe’s ailing economy and alleged that Mugabe had used his influence on the region to impose the current theme.
COMMENTS
If Zim is chairing SADC, then there is no problem with this theme as it reflects originality. A theme can either be accepted or rejected by the member countries. Can we afford them the chance to air their views ?
only if their views show honesty and a need to help people on the ground-this I doubt if Mugabe is the leader he is looking for more ways to rape ,pillage and murder
The 90 gereiatric does not give a stuff he wants to leave his legacy but it will be the worst in living memory
The theme is good, if it is R G Mugabe who proposed it and it was accepted, then that shows the qualities of a charismatic and long sighted leader. If it was bad SADC would have rejected it, they are not infants.
no they are not infants but he is a senile delinquent
You are brain damaged or smoking illegal substances to believe that the Mugabe who destroyed the Zimbabwean economy through his greed and lust for power, so as to avoid prosecution for crimes against humanity can add anything to a debate on business, economics and democracy.
Strategy is too operational a word, Vision would be a better term. Who drives the SADC agenda? Is it not a collective effort and hence shouldn’t the theme for the conference a collective effort established well ahead of of the conference.
I say it again….For mugabe to be asked to chair sadc shows the pathetic incompetence and arrogant racism of African leaders as a whole.It really is an enourmous step backwards that after a meeting in Washington without this genocidal demoniac that these utter fools who call themselves leaders actually have the gall to call this madman to the chair to lead them. What a bunch of brainless numbskulls1
Well said, reverend.
I think it would be foolish anyway to expect anything from this summit except the usual nonsense from this cabal of thieves.
sadc enjoy the Zimbabwe situation and a racist idiot like Mugabe because they have all the zim trade which helps their economies.
just words… no substance
Should read :
Southern Africa’s dictator countries strategy for continued economic transformation to leverage off the regions diverse resources for sustainable economic looting for mugabes social development.
While we still have Mr Jing jong above and dviad above as well as others of their ilk coming out in support of this illegitimate regime that destroys everything it touches, I realise just how blind people can be and how strong Mugabe’s hold still is on people.
Mugabe talking economy? My foot. He and ‘dis-economy’ are ‘alike’ – to use his word the other day while addressing his green bombers. Apart from Khama, the J Zees of this world hang on Bob’s little finger. He says to Zima, ‘wena kaufundanga so let me coin this one’ and JZ cannot quite argue agaist that. Now that is where SADC stops. If Nkandla says yes so does SAD – C. What a shame. But are they hearing us?
Come on people we all know how spineless the SADC leadership, with the exception of Ian Khama are, so let’s not get too hot under the collar. SADC itself has done very little to improve the region of the to date so I don’t think they will under Mugabe’s chairmanship. Bottom line is they are will push their own agenda’s in the meantime while we slide further down the drain. So sad!!