SADC is a grouping of elected political thugs with no concern for any ordinary citizen in this region, says Zambia’s Brebner Changala.
The civil rights activist charged that SADC was a disgrace to the region adding that the grouping was now a club for dictators and elected criminals.
“We must go back to the genesis of SADC…. SADC was a creation of the frontline Heads of State who are Kenneth Kaunda, Julius Kambarage Nyerere and Samora Machel of Mozambique, added to the list was Mobutu Sese Seko although not very active. This grouping was to fight for the independence and emancipation of the people of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia and their mission was to introduce one man, one vote in these countries and give access to the people, black people of this region, called the SADC region,” he explained. “They financed and supported the liberation movements in these countries of Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia. When all these countries were independent – because Frontline heads of state was more political, for political emancipation of the people of this region, when they were independent – they had to turn it into an economic and social rights body and other accruing benefits through the people of SADC. So it transformed from Frontline heads of state to SADC and its main core as trade, human rights and democracy and many other needs they had to conduct on behalf of many other people and citizens who live in these countries.”
Changala said regrettably the SADC had lost its meaning.
“It has become an organisation or an embodiment where SADC leaders are there to serve their interest and protest each other from the citizens of this region. In other words, they have risen against its own people who they are supposed to serve. Look at the chaos happening in Zimbabwe. SADC for one reason or the other doesn’t want to side with the people who are being brutalised and maimed and killed on the daily basis,” he said. “If anything they are going round the world demanding the people of the Western world to lift sanctions…sanctions to benefit who, to benefit the oppressor and not the oppressed. And if you look at the chaos happening in Congo DR, SADC has a mammoth task to give direction and side with the people of DR Congo. For two years, [Joseph] Kabila refused to step down and hold elections in the eyes of SADC. And SADC entertained it because he was one of them to the point where the international community had to start sanctions against the leadership of Kabila and his colleagues but SADC did nothing to serve the interest of the common man in DR Congo.”
He said the spirit of great leaders on whom SADC was formed had been lost.
Changala said SADC was today void of service to humanity and service above self.
He said SADC had become a rebel movement against people.
Changala appealed to the people to rise and make leaders accountable and save SADC from the elected ‘criminals’.
“Having said that, it has become for apparently clear that SADC has lost that spirit of Samora Machel, the spirit of Kenneth David Kaunda, and the Julius Kambarage Nyerere of service to humanity and service above self. And when you go back, the most corrupt leaders in Africa are in the SADC region. That’s where the elected thieves are…criminals, they are amassing wealth at the expense of the same people who elected them to be in those offices,” said Changala. “SADC has become a rebel movement against the very people they aspire to lead and serve. So the people of the region must rise and make our leaders accountable, rise and save SADC from these elected criminals.”
Zambian Observer