In its August 18, 2024 edition, The Standard newspaper published an article titled “Hichilema ‘snub’ spoils Mnangagwa’s SADC party,” suggesting that Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema’s absence from the 44th SADC Summit in Harare overshadowed President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s appointment as Chair of the regional bloc. However, this portrayal misrepresents the situation.
The article implied that President Hichilema’s absence had a significant impact on President Mnangagwa’s role, but this view overlooks an important fact: the 44th SADC Summit was hosted by Zimbabwe primarily for the benefit of the region, not as a personal event for President Mnangagwa. Thus, Hichilema’s absence affected the broader SADC region, not just President Mnangagwa.
Despite this, President Mnangagwa carried out his duties efficiently throughout the Summit. The handover of the SADC chairmanship from Angolan President João Lourenço to President Mnangagwa proceeded smoothly, without any issues. This transition demonstrated that Hichilema’s absence did not hinder the summit or cause any disruptions.
Claims that Hichilema’s non-attendance overshadowed President Mnangagwa’s chairmanship are unfounded. The summit saw a strong turnout with 13 out of 16 regional leaders attending in person, while the remaining three sent representatives. This level of participation underscores that Mnangagwa’s leadership was not undermined by Hichilema’s absence.
Diplomatically, a representative is considered an acceptable proxy for a leader. Consequently, Zambia’s interests were well represented by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Mulambo Haimbe and other officials. Hichilema’s absence did not disrupt the proceedings or affect the overall success of the summit.
