From the days of the Frontline States where neighbours aided and abetted those fighting to overthrow colonialist forces in the region, SADC heads of state can certainly look back with pride. What they cannot do, however, is become stuck looking down memory lane, while neglecting the myriad of pressing crises the region faces going forward. The events around the exit of Yayha Jammeh of Gambia, after his 22-year reign, are shining an unfavourable light on our part of the continent. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a sister organisation to SADC, successfully pressed a diplomatic and military interview to lever Jammeh out, after he flip-flopped on his acceptance of an electoral loss. SADC has its own Jammehs hiding in plain sight and proudly snubbing their noses at all critics, while hiding behind the coat tails of regional solidarity and post-liberation camaraderie.
One of these Jammehs, Robert Mugabe, has handsomely benefited from SADC’s inability to hold fellow member states to account for violations of democracy, human rights abuses and the denial of constitutional rights for citizens.
