Geingob roasted for congratulating Mnangagwa
Namibian leader contradicts SADC observers
Zimbabweans have come out guns blazing against the Namibian head of state's pronouncement that their election was 'peaceful'.
Zimbabweans have reacted angrily to President Hage Geingob's congratulatory message to President Emmerson Mnangagwa for his re-election, accusing the Namibian head of state of undermining SADC’s observation that the election "fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe".
Geingob, himself a former chairperson of SADC (Southern Africa Development Community) tweeted on Sunday:
"On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of Namibia, I extend warmest congratulations to [Mnangagwa] on his re-election as President of Zimbabwe. I also extend felicitations to [Zanu-PF], our sister party, on the victory in the peaceful elections of 23-08-23."
Tainted proceedings
SADC cited the cancellation of opposition rallies, biased state media and alleged voter intimidation as some of the issues that sullied the election.
"Some aspects of the harmonised election fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Electoral Act, and the SADC principals and guidelines governing democratic elections," said the head of the bloc’s delegation, Nevers Mumba, a former Zambian vice-president.
Mumba was appointed head of delegation by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, who just took over from Geingob as chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Collective rift
Geingob's congratulations to Mnangagwa in the face of SADC's denunciation have raised eyebrows, with critics arguing that it undermines the collective voice of SADC and highlights the growing challenges of maintaining unity among member states.
The question of whether this division signifies a deeper tension among SADC member states is at the forefront of discussions, while others wonder if it indicates a more significant shift in the regional political landscape.
"It is interesting. This is the first time SADC has broken ranks when it comes to assessing the election outcomes in one of their own member countries," said political commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah.
"So one wonders whether this contrasting position on Zimbabwe is actually a reflection of a rift or tension among SADC states. It's important to note that it's not only President Hage Geingob who congratulated Mnangagwa. Several other leaders and politicians in SADC and outside did so," he added.
He also highlighted Hichilema as coming from a different generation of leadership and not from the dominant leadership rooted in the liberation struggle in southern Africa.
"From that perspective, he is a newcomer, an outsider and a minority in the old SADC club. No concrete evidence yet, but it could be a factor at play."
Old friends
Political analyst Graham Hopwood also highlighted that Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu-PF, and Swapo are both members of the club of former liberation movements in the region, and therefore their leaders would never discredit each other.
"They will never criticise each other and would rather gloss over things like rigged elections and blatant human rights abuses, citing the need to respect national sovereignty. It's a pity that we don't stand for the values in our Constitution's bill of rights when it comes to foreign policy, but this has gone on for years – since we ignored all Mugabe's abuses - so it's not surprising that the president toes the same line," Hopwood remarked.
"SADC has tended to ignore the factors that lead to elections not being free and fair. It's a positive development that finally a SADC observer mission has offered some serious criticism, but it remains to be seen whether this is a one-off or a sign of a more serious change in direction," he said.
Zimbabweans descend
Zimbabweans have since inundated Geingob’s tweet, which had nearly 1 400 comments as of late yesterday, arguably the biggest reaction to a tweet by the Namibian head of state.
"Hage, you keep embarrassing Namibia. Why are you congratulating a man who stole an election? Did you take time to read the SADC communiqué?" one commentator tweeted.
"Shame on you. You enjoy seeing the people of Zimbabwe suffering," another tweet read.
"Are you a credible African leader, Hage? Scandals always find a way to include your name, you were part of the Phala Phala drama and the Fishrot scandal. Now you want to be part of endorsing elections that SADC already said had serious issues. You are part of the problem," another reacted.
Another subscriber commented: "Chief, in your spare time you are helping conceal Phala Phala US dollars, now you are congratulating thieves. What is it with you and thieves?"
A Namibian user also chipped in, saying: "Speak for yourself, please, don't include Namibian people because we surely don't support dictatorship."
And: "Hage Geingob and Emmerson are birds of the same feather, they are dictators – why is [Michael] Amushelelo in jail? Why is Job Sikhala in jail?"
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Geingob, himself a former chairperson of SADC (Southern Africa Development Community) tweeted on Sunday:
"On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of Namibia, I extend warmest congratulations to [Mnangagwa] on his re-election as President of Zimbabwe. I also extend felicitations to [Zanu-PF], our sister party, on the victory in the peaceful elections of 23-08-23."
Tainted proceedings
SADC cited the cancellation of opposition rallies, biased state media and alleged voter intimidation as some of the issues that sullied the election.
"Some aspects of the harmonised election fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Electoral Act, and the SADC principals and guidelines governing democratic elections," said the head of the bloc’s delegation, Nevers Mumba, a former Zambian vice-president.
Mumba was appointed head of delegation by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, who just took over from Geingob as chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Collective rift
Geingob's congratulations to Mnangagwa in the face of SADC's denunciation have raised eyebrows, with critics arguing that it undermines the collective voice of SADC and highlights the growing challenges of maintaining unity among member states.
The question of whether this division signifies a deeper tension among SADC member states is at the forefront of discussions, while others wonder if it indicates a more significant shift in the regional political landscape.
"It is interesting. This is the first time SADC has broken ranks when it comes to assessing the election outcomes in one of their own member countries," said political commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah.
"So one wonders whether this contrasting position on Zimbabwe is actually a reflection of a rift or tension among SADC states. It's important to note that it's not only President Hage Geingob who congratulated Mnangagwa. Several other leaders and politicians in SADC and outside did so," he added.
He also highlighted Hichilema as coming from a different generation of leadership and not from the dominant leadership rooted in the liberation struggle in southern Africa.
"From that perspective, he is a newcomer, an outsider and a minority in the old SADC club. No concrete evidence yet, but it could be a factor at play."
Old friends
Political analyst Graham Hopwood also highlighted that Zimbabwe’s ruling party, Zanu-PF, and Swapo are both members of the club of former liberation movements in the region, and therefore their leaders would never discredit each other.
"They will never criticise each other and would rather gloss over things like rigged elections and blatant human rights abuses, citing the need to respect national sovereignty. It's a pity that we don't stand for the values in our Constitution's bill of rights when it comes to foreign policy, but this has gone on for years – since we ignored all Mugabe's abuses - so it's not surprising that the president toes the same line," Hopwood remarked.
"SADC has tended to ignore the factors that lead to elections not being free and fair. It's a positive development that finally a SADC observer mission has offered some serious criticism, but it remains to be seen whether this is a one-off or a sign of a more serious change in direction," he said.
Zimbabweans descend
Zimbabweans have since inundated Geingob’s tweet, which had nearly 1 400 comments as of late yesterday, arguably the biggest reaction to a tweet by the Namibian head of state.
"Hage, you keep embarrassing Namibia. Why are you congratulating a man who stole an election? Did you take time to read the SADC communiqué?" one commentator tweeted.
"Shame on you. You enjoy seeing the people of Zimbabwe suffering," another tweet read.
"Are you a credible African leader, Hage? Scandals always find a way to include your name, you were part of the Phala Phala drama and the Fishrot scandal. Now you want to be part of endorsing elections that SADC already said had serious issues. You are part of the problem," another reacted.
Another subscriber commented: "Chief, in your spare time you are helping conceal Phala Phala US dollars, now you are congratulating thieves. What is it with you and thieves?"
A Namibian user also chipped in, saying: "Speak for yourself, please, don't include Namibian people because we surely don't support dictatorship."
And: "Hage Geingob and Emmerson are birds of the same feather, they are dictators – why is [Michael] Amushelelo in jail? Why is Job Sikhala in jail?"
[email protected]
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