Jou nal o Social Sciences Vol. VIII, no. 2 (2025), pp. 171 - 182
Fascicle Social Science ISSN 2587-3490
Topic Sociology eISSN 2587-3504
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
h ps://doi.o g/10.52326/jss.u m.2025.8(2).13
UDC 339.9:332.135(689.1)
A STUDY OF THE POLITICS OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION DYNAMICS: THE CASE
OF ZIMBABWE'S ROLE IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY
Olawale Olu emi Akin inde 1*, ORCID: 0000-0001-7350-2376,
Fa ai J. Chidhume 2, ORCID: 0000-0001-8429-3039,
Abiodun Samuel Isayomi 3, ORCID: 0000-0003-4136-2051,
An hony Do un Oladipo 3, ORCID: 0000-0003-2620-2439
1 Uni e si y o he F ee S a e, 205 Nelson Mandela D i e, Pa k Wes , Bloem on ein, Sou h A ica
2 Midlands S a e Uni e si y, Senga Road, Gwe u, Zimbabwe
3 Osun S a e Uni e si y, Oke Bale S ee Osogbo, Osun S a e, Nige ia*Co esponding au ho : Olawale Olu emi
Akin inde, akin inde.oo@u s.ac.za
Recei ed: 04.16.2025
Accep ed: 05.22.2025
Abs ac . This s udy del es in o he in ica e web o egional in eg a ion, wi h a keen ocus
on Zimbabwe's pi o al ole wi hin he Sou he n A ican De elopmen Communi y (SADC).
Zimbabwe's pa icipa ion in egional in eg a ion ini ia i es has been a in e play o poli ical,
economic, and social ac o s. The s udy seeks o unpack how Zimbabwe's engagemen wi hin
he SADC has le i s ma k on he b oade discou se su ounding egional in eg a ion in
Sou he n A ica. I del es in o he mul i ace ed ela ionship be ween Zimbabwe and i s SADC
coun e pa s, del ing deep in o he poli ical mo i a ions, economic syne gies, and he social
apes y o his engagemen . Fu he mo e, i explo es he his o ical oo s and con empo a y
de elopmen s ha ha e sculp ed Zimbabwe's ma ix discou se wi hin he SADC. By
dissec ing he nuanced in e play o egional in eg a ion dynamics, his s udy aspi es o o e
insigh s o policymake s, schola s, and s akeholde s in es ed in he e e -e ol ing landscape
o egional coope a ion in Sou he n A ica. The indings a e expec ed o illumina e he
oppo uni ies and challenges en ailed in Zimbabwe's in ol emen in he SADC, along wi h
i s b oade impac on he egional in eg a ion agenda.
Keywo ds: egional in eg a ion, egional dynamics, Sou he n A ican de elopmen , Zimbabwe.
Rezuma . S udiul explo ează ețeaua complexă a in eg ă ii egionale, cu un accen deosebi
pe olul esențial al Zimbabwe în cad ul Comuni ății de Dez ol a e a A icii Aus ale (SADC).
Pa icipa ea Zimbabwe la iniția i ele de in eg a e egională a ep ezen a o in e acțiune
ascinan ă de ac o i poli ici, economici și sociali. S udiul își p opune să descope e modul în
ca e implica ea Zimbabwe și-a lăsa amp en a asup a discu sului din ju ul in eg ă ii egionale
în A ica de Sud. Aces a analizează elația mul ațe a ă din e Zimbabwe și omologii săi din
SADC, analizând în p o unzime mo i ațiile poli ice, sine gia economică și apițe ia socială a
aces ei implică i. În plus, explo ează ădăcinile is o ice și e oluțiile con empo ane ca e au
172 O.O. Akin inde, F.J. Chidhume, A.S. Isayomi, A.D. Oladipo
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
sculp a discu sul ma icial al Zimbabwe în cad ul SADC. P in disecția in e acțiunii nuanța e
a dinamicii in eg ă ii egionale, s udiul aspi ă să o e e pe spec i e pen u ac o ii de decizie
poli ică, ce ce ă o i și pă țile in e esa e implica e în peisajul în con inuă e oluție al coope ă ii
egionale din A ica de Sud. Se aș eap ă ca ezul a ele să e idențieze opo uni ățile și
p o ocă ile cauza e de implica ea Zimbabwe în SADC, împ eună cu impac ul mai la g asup a
agendei de in eg a e egională.
Cu in e cheie: in eg a e egională, dinamică egională, dez ol a e sud-a icană, Zimbabwe.
1. In oduc ion
The Zimbabwean exis en ial challenges ha e g ipped and exposed he he o ic
diploma ic pa adigm o he Sou he n A ican De elopmen Communi y (SADC) since
No embe 2017 in he wake o he mili a y cons i u ionalism ois ed on i . The bloc has
g a ely been exposed o i s su ep i ious weaknesses o upholding cons i u ionalism and
good go e nance i ues. P inciple guidelines on human igh s, democ acy, and good
go e nance ha e been exposed bo h in he p e-elec ion build-up and pos -elec ion in
Zambia, Zimbabwe, and he Democ a ic Republic o Congo (DRC). Ye , ano he jux aposed
h ea and weakness SADC aces is a lack o unding, c ippled in o a diso de ly o ganiza ion
ma ed wi h con o e sies and co ne ed by co up ion esul ing om powe go e nance
s uc u es wi hin he egional bloc [1].
Basically, egional in eg a ion is he amalgama ion o na ion-s a es wi hin
geog aphical p oximi y, o inc eased poli ical, economic, and secu i y. Regional in eg a ion
encou ages all membe s a es o wo k collec i ely in achie ing peace, secu i y, sus ainable
de elopmen , and economic g ow h. Regional in eg a ion has mos ly been used o b idge
gaps and limi a ions ha coun ies ace anging om ma ke s o a ainmen o peace and
secu i y. Regional in eg a ion in he case o SADC has been used o empowe weak economies
and also ad ance membe s a es' in e es s e idenced by economic de elopmen and
pa ne ships such as P e e en ial T ade Ag eemen (PTA), Sou h A ican Cus om Union (SACU),
and SADC common ma ke . SADC is comp ised o ou een membe s a es. The egional
in eg a ion bloc was ounded in 1980 as SADC, i comp ises weal hy coun ies and la gely
unde de eloped s a es which sha e poli ical, economic, and secu i y coope a ion. Since i s
genesis SADC has been aced wi h plen y o secu i y challenges, go e nance issues o
au oc acy and democ acy, and mili a y coups.
The egional bloc has o e he yea s emained unse led on human igh s abuses by
membe s a es, much o he abuses a e poli ically inclined due o dep i a ion and declining
economies. SADC as a egional body has been encompassed by a ple ho a o challenges in
i s ope a ions as a egional in eg a ion bloc. The conduc o he bloc has come in o ques ion
on democ a ic p inciples and elec o al p ac ices. While he bloc has been cas iga ed o
igno ing elec o al misconduc in mos o i s membe s a es, he bloc has subs an ial, elec o al
o libe al democ acies [2]. SADC has es ablished an elec o al ad iso y council and ha monized
s a egic indica i e plan, i espec i e o he ac ha So he n A ica De elopmen Commi ee
and A ican Union ha e p o en o be me ely d i en by sel -in e es .
The endo semen by SADC on Zimbabwean 2018 ha monized elec ions which we e
ma ed wi h elec o al i egula i ies o o e in imida ion, o e aud, and usage o le hal o ce
on he Augus i s demons a ion ha e been sc u inized. The nex ha monised elec ion o
2023 had a di e ging iew om he no mal SADC endo semen o elec ions. The Ne ous
Mumba led SADC obse e mission cas iga ed he elec o al ou come ci ing se e al
A s udy o he poli ics o egional in eg a ion dynamics: he case o Zimbabwe’s ole in he sou he n… 173
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
i egula i ies ha he mission had wi nessed du ing hei obse a ion. The e ec i eness o
he p omised poli ical, adminis a i e, and elec o al e o ms unde he second epublic,
p opounded by P esiden Mnangagwa a e ye o be wi nessed as he has been a ci cus o
pa liamen a y ecalls o legisla o s om he Mo emen o Democ a ic Change (MDC) Alliance
he second la ges poli ical pa y in pa liamen .
The egional bloc has been plunged in o a ple ho a o challenges ha included he
ins alla ion o P esiden Mnangagwa o he depu y SADC chai posi ion on Poli ics and
de ence 2018 in he backd op o a con es ed elec ion ma ed wi h elec o al i egula i ies and
malp ac ice [3]. The undamen al p oblem aced by SADC is he lack o ca e blanche
en o cemen on any ju isdic ional decisions. In he wake o inancial incapaci a ion, he socio-
economic complica ion o wallowing g inding po e y om he g ound-b eaking man a o
he s a es in he body he 2018 Zimbabwean elec ion p o ided he damascene oppo uni y.
This s udy, he e o e, examines and dissec s he challenges being aced by SADC a e he
2018 and 2023 Zimbabwean elec ions and he accompanying concomi an egional dynamics
wi hin he SADC.
1.2 Zimbabwe's Role in Shaping Sou he n A ican De elopmen Communi y h ough
he Theo e ical Lens o Neo-Func ionalism
He e, we conside he mos app op ia e heo y o analyze Zimbabwe's Role in Shaping
Sou he n A ican De elopmen Communi y is-a- is he Poli ics o Regional In eg a ion
Dynamics o be he heo y o Neo unc ionalism. Neo unc ionalism, c ucial in he s udy o
egional in eg a ion, ocuses on explaining how and why na ions in eg a e in o la ge
egional en i ies like he SADC. Neo unc ionalism is pa icula ly sui able o his s udy
because i emphasizes he ole o poli ical eli es, he spillo e e ec , and he g adual c ea ion
o sup ana ional ins i u ions [4]. These elemen s a e c ucial in unde s anding Zimbabwe’s
in ol emen in SADC and he dynamics o egional in eg a ion in Sou he n A ica. In con as
o o he heo ies, such as ealism o in e go e nmen alism, which ocus mo e on s a e
so e eign y and powe poli ics, neo unc ionalism o e s a mo e nuanced unde s anding o
he coope a i e mechanisms and inc emen al p ocesses ha d i e egional in eg a ion.
Neo unc ionalism, de eloped by poli ical scien is s E ns Haas and Leon Lindbe g in
he mid-20 h cen u y, cen e s on how na ional go e nmen s olun a ily cede powe o
egional ins i u ions. I examines how hese egional ins i u ions e ol e o e ime o d i e
u he in eg a ion among membe s a es. This heo y p o ides a obus amewo k o
analyzing he poli ical, economic, and ins i u ional dynamics o SADC, especially in ligh o
Zimbabwe’s ole wi hin he o ganiza ion. Se e al key assump ions o neo unc ionalism align
well wi h his s udy. Fi s ly, he heo y sugges s ha in eg a ion in one sec o o a egion,
such as he economy, na u ally leads o in eg a ion in o he a eas, such as poli ics and
secu i y. In he case o SADC, Zimbabwe’s economic coope a ion wi h o he membe s a es
c ea es p essu e o b oade poli ical collabo a ion, u he ing egional in eg a ion in a eas
such as go e nance and secu i y. Secondly, neo unc ionalism unde sco es he impo ance o
sup ana ional ins i u ions like he SADC sec e a ia , which gain au onomy and play a i al
ole in d i ing egional in eg a ion. Zimbabwe’s in ol emen in SADC, as analyzed in
he s udy, aligns wi h his idea because he coun y’s pa icipa ion in luences and in e ac s
wi h SADC’s sup ana ional s uc u es. Thi dly, poli ical eli es a e essen ial ac o s in he
in eg a ion p ocess. These eli es, pa icula ly hose who a e egionalis s, d i e he in eg a ion
agenda by ecognizing he bene i s o egionalism. Zimbabwe’s ole wi hin SADC can be
174 O.O. Akin inde, F.J. Chidhume, A.S. Isayomi, A.D. Oladipo
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
analyzed h ough he ac ions and poli ical mo i a ions o i s leade ship, consis en wi h
neo unc ionalism’s emphasis on eli e-d i en in eg a ion. Finally, neo unc ionalism posi s ha
egional in eg a ion is a g adual, s ep-by-s ep p ocess. This inc emen al app oach is e iden
in SADC’s his o ical de elopmen and Zimbabwe's engagemen , pa icula ly in e ms o i s
s a egic alliances, poli ical in luence, and economic collabo a ions.
Neo unc ionalism helps us o analyze Zimbabwe’s poli ical, economic, and social
s a egies as c i ical d i e s o egional in eg a ion. Neo unc ionalism p o ides a amewo k
o unde s anding how Zimbabwe’s in ol emen , oo ed in he aspi a ions o i s poli ical
eli es, a ec s b oade egional in eg a ion. Fo example, Zimbabwe’s pa icipa ion in SADC’s
economic ac i i ies, such as ini ia i es like he SADC Common Ma ke , illus a es he heo y’s
spillo e e ec . By engaging in economic coope a ion, Zimbabwe helps o build momen um
o u he poli ical and social collabo a ion wi hin he egion. Neo unc ionalism is mo e
app op ia e han o he heo ies like ealism o in e go e nmen alism because i ocuses on
coope a ion and ins i u ional de elopmen a he han s a e so e eign y and powe
compe i ion. Realism, o example, would emphasize Zimbabwe’s a emp s o maximize
powe in ela ion o i s neighbo s, o e looking he coope a i e dynamics ha a e cen al o
his s udy. In e go e nmen alism, while use ul in explaining some aspec s o s a e
coope a ion, places oo much emphasis on s a e so e eign y and decision-making a he
in e go e nmen al le el. I ails o accoun o he ole o sup ana ional ins i u ions and he
socializa ion o poli ical eli es, which a e c i ical o unde s anding egional in eg a ion wi hin
SADC. In con as , neo unc ionalism's emphasis on he spillo e e ec , he au onomy o
sup ana ional ins i u ions, and eli e-d i en in eg a ion p o ides a mo e comp ehensi e
explana ion o he dynamics a play in SADC. This heo y allows us o unde s and how
Zimbabwe, despi e i s in e nal poli ical challenges, emains a key playe in d i ing egional
in eg a ion in Sou he n A ica. Neo unc ionalism also p o ides insigh s in o how Zimbabwe’s
economic in eg a ion wi h SADC c ea es momen um o b oade coope a ion in a eas such as
go e nance, secu i y, and human igh s. Fu he mo e, he heo y highligh s how SADC
ins i u ions g adually gain powe and in luence, c ea ing he condi ions o deepe egional
in eg a ion o e ime.
Applicably, Zimbabwe’s economic and poli ical ies wi h SADC ha e no ably
in luenced he egional bloc’s policies, especially in elec ion o e sigh and go e nance. The
SADC Elec o al Ad iso y Council (SEAC) is esponsible o ensu ing membe s a es uphold
elec ion s anda ds ha p omo e ai ness and anspa ency. Howe e , Zimbabwe’s elec o al
his o y, ma ked by con o e sies in 2008, 2018, and 2023, has es ed SADC’s capaci y o
en o ce hese s anda ds, e ealing bo h s eng hs and ulne abili ies. Zimbabwe’s 2008
elec ions, plagued by iolence and i egula i ies, o ced SADC o media e by o ming a
Go e nmen o Na ional Uni y be ween ZANU-PF and he MDC. This showed SADC’s capabili y
as a media o bu also highligh ed i s eluc ance o impose s ic e measu es when membe
s a e leade s esis ed o e sigh , an example o he neo- unc ionalis concep o ins i u ional
esis ance.
In 2018, SADC endo sed he elec ions despi e epo s o o e in imida ion and pos -
elec ion iolence ha le ci ilians dead. This unde sco ed SADC’s delica e balance be ween
main aining uni y and upholding i s go e nance p o ocols. SEAC’s ela i ely cau ious s ance
mi o ed Zimbabwe’s in luence in he bloc and illus a ed he spillo e e ec desc ibed by
neo- unc ionalism: egional bodies expanding hei ocus om economic ma e s o include
complex poli ical issues. The 2023 elec ions p esen ed ano he es . SEAC’s epo , led by
A s udy o he poli ics o egional in eg a ion dynamics: he case o Zimbabwe’s ole in he sou he n… 175
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
Ne e s Mumba, lagged signi ican elec o al issues, sugges ing a shi owa d mo e asse i e
o e sigh . Ye , SADC’s limi ed ollow-up ac ions e ealed pe sis en esis ance om poli ical
eli es. This inconsis ency in en o cing s anda ds, despi e es ablished amewo ks, shows how
policy can be shaped o s alled by he in e es s o powe ul membe s a es like Zimbabwe
[5]. I highligh s he nuanced, inc emen al na u e o egional in eg a ion and e o m, as
posi ed by neo- unc ionalism. In essence, neo unc ionalism emains, o his s udy,
app op ia e heo e ical amewo k o analyzing Zimbabwe’s ole in shaping SADC. I p o ides
a s uc u ed app oach o unde s anding how egional in eg a ion de elops h ough poli ical,
economic, and social coope a ion. Neo unc ionalism’s ocus on eli e socializa ion, he
spillo e e ec , and he g adual e olu ion o sup ana ional ins i u ions aligns wi h he s udy’s
examina ion o Zimbabwe’s pa icipa ion in SADC and he b oade dynamics o egional
in eg a ion in Sou he n A ica. This heo y no only explains he p ocess o in eg a ion bu
also highligh s he challenges and oppo uni ies ha Zimbabwe and SADC ace in hei
pu sui o egional coope a ion.
2. Ma e ials and Me hods
This s udy akes an analy ical app oach, d awing on exis ing ma e ials o explo e
Zimbabwe’s ole wi hin he SADC and how i has shaped egional in eg a ion. The esea ch
elies on a a ie y o sou ces, including academic a icles, o icial epo s, books, and
ins i u ional publica ions. These ma e ials o e aluable insigh s in o egional coope a ion,
Zimbabwe’s poli ical and economic ac i i ies, and he o e all s uc u e o SADC. By using he
neo unc ionalism heo y, he esea ch examines how egional in eg a ion e ol es s ep by
s ep, ocusing on he in luence o poli ical leade s, economic pa ne ships, and egional
ins i u ions. The da a collec ed help illus a e how Zimbabwe’s in ol emen in SADC’s
economic, poli ical, and social e o s has con ibu ed o shaping b oade policies wi hin he
egion. Key a eas such as elec ion in eg i y, go e nance, and economic collabo a ion a e
analyzed o show how hey connec wi h Zimbabwe’s poli ical con ex and i s ongoing
pa icipa ion in egional in eg a ion. Ul ima ely, he s udy sheds ligh on he challenges and
oppo uni ies ha Zimbabwe's ac ions p esen o SADC’s goal o deepe egional
coope a ion.
3. Resul s
3.1 SADC’s Poli ical Dilemma
SADC has been keen o push e o ms in he egion h ough he enac men o he
ha monized s a egic indica i e plan which is mean o ensu e capaci y building in he
con ex o peace [6]. Elec o al in eg i y has always been a he epi ome o agenda discussions,
especially in he Zimbabwean con ex . The Zimbabwean poli ical landscape has chu ned ou
se ious conce ns since he s a o he millennium when T ade unionis leade Mo gan
Ts angi ai o med he MDC in he ques o b eak he one-pa y s a e ha had been
es ablished by Robe Mugabe. The poli ical challenges ha e gi en p ominence and sympa hy
o he opposi ion h ough a se ies o a es s on i olous and exa ious cha ges anging om
eason, he bloc has been engul ed wi h a li any o challenges anging om being a oupe
bloc galli an ing on axpaye s’ monies ha ha e esul an ly escala ed o he p e e i o i ial
impedimen s plaguing he egion like powe e en ion.
The egional body has o e he yea s since i s es ablishmen been handling a laisse-
ai e a i ude owa ds poo go e nance issues, he amed Mugabeism doc ine, acco ding o
Ga sheni is a summa ion o a cons ella ion o poli ical con o e sies, poli ical beha io s,
176 O.O. Akin inde, F.J. Chidhume, A.S. Isayomi, A.D. Oladipo
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
poli ical u e ances, he o ic, and c ys allized ac ions o he o me p esiden , Mugabe's
Poli ical li e once deemed he god a he o he SADC bloc is s ill whole and en o ce as only
he adminis a o has changed bu he sys ems a e s ill p e alen [7]. Mohle si Mbeki a gues
ha he lack o ha moniza ion in a egional con ex o o e a p esc ip ion o he Zimbabwean
challenges has o e ed he enabling g ound o expo a ion o hese p oblems o o he
coun ies wi hin he bloc [8].
3.2 Zimbabwe and he Elec o al Legi imacy Conund um in SADC
The 2018 elec ion in Zimbabwe was dubbed an economic eju ena ion elec ion
howe e legi imacy c isis in Zimbabwe has plunged owa ds an acephalous unc ion. The
2018 elec ion was ma ed by nume ous i egula i ies such as he skewed media co e age on
s a e-owned media pla o ms, he opposi ion pa ies had limi ed access o p i a e p in and
digi al media house co e age whe eas he uling Zimbabwe A ican Na ional Union Pa io ic
F on (ZANU-PF) had he monopoly on elec o al campaign co e age on he s a e un. The
He ald like i s p edecesso Rhodesian He ald es ablished du ing he colonial pe iod o
demonize black people o Zimbabwe, has no abandoned he ai o ic imizing and ili ying
opposi ion pa ies, his being a pu e iola ion o he elec o al p inciples o SADC Elec o al
Ad iso y Council which alludes o he equali y o poli ical pa ies’ access o s a e media bo h
p in and b oadcas [9]. The go e nmen o Zimbabwe has been ound wan ing h ough i s
media mou hpiece ha has clandes inely oman icized and po ayed eedom o speech as
a hypo he ically bona ide s a e gi hough i being is-a- is SADC despi e making majo
de elopmen s in p e-elec ion and pos -elec ion pe iod obse a ion and moni o ing much has
no been done o secu e su e y om o he con es ing pa ies, he conduc o elec ions in
some membe s a es ha e o en been inconsis en wi h he SADC elec o al s anda ds i
seemed ha he adminis a ion had only a acial change as he sys ems a play had no e o ms
implemen ed by he new dispensa ion.
The his o ical con ex o acqui ing independence o SADC membe s a es has a ec ed
he adminis a ion p ocedu e o hese na ion-s a es hese angua d pa ies had a s ong
mu ual bond o mili a ized libe a ion mo emen s. These mo emen s had e olu ions backed
by he masses bu he iolen ansi ion om he colonial go e nmen o independen
adminis a ion did no es ablish ample ime o he demili a iza ion in p ac ice a i ude and
manage ial c i e ia as he decisions a e mili an gi en he nexus be ween he e olu iona y
pa y and he mili a y [7]. These ailu es by SADC na ions om he beginning ailed o p o e
u ile g ound he egional bloc. Founded wi h he ques o os e egional in eg a ion would
be subjec o a li any o spu ious and audulen claims and no wi hs and big b o he poli ics
coupled wi h he na ional in e es a play Zimbabwe has o e he yea s been a u ile g ound
o la gely dispu ed elec ions since he s a o he millennium. Se e al allega ions o
elec o al malp ac ices and cap u e e en wi nessed SADC endo sing he con es ed 2008
elec ions as ee and ai in which Robe Mugabe, la e on, acknowledged de ea om he
opposi ion ha le he egional bloc wi h an egg on i s ace [10]. All hese challenges ha e
emana ed om non-es ablishmen impa iali y wi hin he bloc, which has b ed deep ai s o
bu eauc acy, co up ion, nepo ism, and pa onage wi hin he egion. This has esul an ly
abandoned he populace wallowing in abjec po e y ha necessi a ed co up ion and
maladminis a ion p omp ing he p ecipi a ion and p oli e a ion o Non-Go e nmen al
O ganiza ions (NGOs) o supe sede he upscaling li elihoods in he egion.
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Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
The Zimbabwean 2018 ha monized elec ions we e a li mus es on SADC and i p o ed
o he wise ha ing obus sound policies insc ibed on pape bu limi ed unde aken. Thus, he
no ion ha egional blocs like he A ican Union and SADC ha e a mammo h ask hough
hey ha e g own o e he yea s in elec ion obse a ion. The con es a ions a ising om he
elec ions ha e p esen ed a headache o SADC o y and media e he poli ical dilemma ha
has engul ed Zimbabwe, in e es s a e a play wi h in e es s o sa egua d and subsequen ly,
con ine Zimbabwe as a ‘supe ma ke ’ economy o SADC Na ion-s a es.
3.3 Glasnos , Pe es oika o Mugabeism: The Machine y o he Second Republic
Zimbabwe
Poli ical g ands anding has been i e in SADC especially a e he 2018 Zimbabwean
elec ions, de e io a ing s a e and ci ilian ela ionship being a he epi ome, he nonexis ence
o pos -elec ion eupho ia and celeb a ion has aised many eyeb ows ha poli ical
machina ions a e s ill much abundan and i e and an inconclusi e judicia y 'p ess con e ence'
judgmen [5]. Angola's Joao Manuel Lou ence du ing he 38 h SADC Summi o heads o S a e
and Go e nmen SADC clamou ed o he emo al o sanc ions on Zimbabwe and highligh ed
hem as majo impedimen s o na ional de elopmen s [3]. The call o he e adica ion o
sanc ions has been sys ema ically used o make e e ence o all he challenges bede illing
Zimbabwe, he emo al o sanc ions call has been e en aken up o he A ican Union and
enac men an an i-sanc ions day he 25 h o Sep embe e e y yea . Howe e , sanc ions ha e
had e y li le signi icance much o he economic decline has been con ibu ed by
maladminis a ion and co up ion by poli ical bigwigs a he s a o he millennium ha has
seen unemploymen a es gobbling and massi e ou wa d mig a ion o Eu ope and o he
neighbou ing coun ies. Sa cas ically he iascos o hese si ing SADC angua d pa ies ha e
been oman icized as esul s o sanc ions, klep oc acy, nepo ism, and maladminis a ion is
immensely e iden in SADC membe s a es. Maodza alludes ha he bloc has o a while
expedi ed he in oduc ion o a isa- ee egime cohe en wi h he SADC p o ocol o he ee
mo emen o pe sons in A ica 2005 o ensu e he pu ging o impedimen s o ee mo emen
o people, se ices goods, and capi al low [11].
Ques ions ha e been aised on he implemen a ion o he ule o law and
independence o he di e en commission, pa icula ly a e he doub ul cons i u ional cou
hea ing in which Sou h A ican Legal Expe s s Mpo u, Ngcukai obi, and Gaun le e we e
denied he igh o appea o hei clien 's counsel Chamisa. Con a y o hei denial he
Minis e o Jus ice had a con lic o in e es in he ma e due o being one o he esponden 's
chie elec ion agen s. Despi e e o he con lic o in e es he ailed o ecuse himsel , he
alluded ha e en lawye s om Ma s a e ee o come and counsel bu he s a emen was
only p egnan wi h oxymo on he esul s on a a e ul day.
I la e p o ed ha he law can be used o compa a i e ad an ages in poli ical cases;
i has mo phed in o being an obs acle o powe dynamics ha p oduced a shell shocke , an
elec o al e dic ha ailed o add ess he pe cen age o he esul s which he p esiden -elec
ha was o be swo n in had amassed in he elec ion. Moyo a gues ha he subs i u ion o
ZANU-PF leade s does no pu po adminis a i e and go e nance modus ope andi [12]. Bu
a sys em bequea hed un o he bloc is belie ed o be he majo s umbling block o be
e adica ed in he e o ma ion o SADC o s a p oducing esul s in he socio-economic and
poli ical sphe e in he egion.
178 O.O. Akin inde, F.J. Chidhume, A.S. Isayomi, A.D. Oladipo
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
The Zimbabwean elec ions om he onse had been an amoun o oman icized
e o ms ha did no add ess he needs o he ci ilians bu we e me e poli ical public ela ions
s un s ha had no e ec in s eng hening he local communi ies, especially a e he
apocalyp ic 2008 pe iod. The build-up o he elec ion was ense and uneasy peace as he
e i ying encoun e s we e wi nessed a e ZANU-PF los he elec ions. To u e, ha assmen ,
and killing o opposi ion suppo e s we e done wi h impuni y p e ailing, he ela ionship
be ween he pa y secu oc a s and judicia y sys ems. The Go e nmen o Na ional Uni y
ag eemen be ween Ts angi ai and Mugabe had done li le o s eng hen local communi ies
a ec ed by he iolence i was me ely a s op-gap measu e o cu b u he con inua ion o he
opposi ion suppo e 's pu ge. The op-down peacebuilding ini ia i e did no p o ide
ansi ional jus ice o he ic ims o iolence a he communi y le el, ela ions had been
ac u ed a he g ass oo s le els. The signing o he ag eemen a he eli e le el ba ely
a ec ed he highly pola ised local communi ies which had been plunged in o o ced silencing
and o ge ing h ough dep i a ion o jus ice along wi h poli ical a ilia ion.
SADC has no en i ely pushed o na ional healing and econcilia ion du ing he build-
up o he elec ions in membe s a es wi h he egional bloc ha has spa ked con o e sies
and iolence Elec ion issues ha e been classi ied as a low poli ical ma e ha has no
undamen al u gency and ma ed wi h g oss i egula i ies conce ning he A ican con inen .
The A ican Union (AU) is a banana o ganiza ion ailing o ac and o e p esc ip ion and
unding o he panacea be alling he con inen . Though he SADC head o S a e and
Go e nmen Summi in 2018 u ged s akeholde s o emain calm and wai o he cou 's
decision all was o be ques ioned and jux aposed wi h he ins alla ion o Zimbabwe depu ies
o he o gan o poli ics and de ense in he wake o con es ed p esiden ial polls. SADC is aced
wi h a g a e policy con ingency, leade ship skills ha ha e ailed o uphold democ acy,
de elopmen , and sus ainable peace in he egion.
3.4 E ening Cons i u ionalism and Poli ical Pa onage
The egional bloc has ailed o ec i y he pos -elec ion challenges h ough paci ying
he MDC Alliance and ZANU-PF o wo k on he eju ena ion o he na ional economy, he
bloc has been ain ed as an ins i u ion incapable o sel -p opulsion. This na u e helped spu
mayhem in many o he membe coun ies in he bloc. The a e ma h o he Zimbabwean
elec ions in 2018 signalled a mammo h u ed oad ha SADC was ye o encoun e , he lack
o speci ied elec o al e o ms as ou lined in he 2013 cons i u ion has con inuously uelled
elec o al con o e sy in 2018 and 2023. All hese come in he a e ma h o SADC ha ing
p o ed o be a weak ailing ins i u ion in he moni o ing o human igh s, democ acy, and
go e nance issues, Moyo sugges s ha i has ailed o be e en pe unc o y in i s modus
ope andi [5]. Elec o al issues ha e o e he yea s been undamen al in he SADC egion wi h
he con es ed elec ion in Democ a ic Republic o Congo 2018, Malawi, 2020, Zambia 2021,
and he Eswa ini up isings agains he mona ch. Cons i u ional and elec o al abuse we e
e iden in he Democ a ic Republic o Congo in 2018 when Kabila ex ended his e m o o ice
and he disquali ica ion o Ka umbi and Bemba's candidacy [13]. Again, he 2018
Zimbabwean elec ions p o ide a clea case whe e SADC endo sed an elec ion ha was ma ed
by epo s o o e supp ession, in imida ion, and he le hal use o o ce du ing pos -elec ion
p o es s on Augus 1, esul ing in six ci ilian dea hs. Simila ly, he 2023 Zimbabwean
elec ions, sc u inized by a SADC obse e mission led by Ne e s Mumba, no ed signi ican
i egula i ies, including delayed o ing and ques ions a ound anspa ency. Inco po a ing
A s udy o he poli ics o egional in eg a ion dynamics: he case o Zimbabwe’s ole in he sou he n… 179
Jou nal o Social Sciences June, 2025, Vol. 8
da a om elec ion obse a ion epo s and human igh s o ganiza ions’ indings, such as
hose om Human Righ s Wa ch o Amnes y In e na ional, can ein o ce hese poin s wi h
empi ical e idence [14].
The p oblem o no being able o con ain elec o al con lic escala ing has p omp ed
he escala ion o ampan elec o al dispu es ha ha e in he pas and p esen igge ed
hunde ous blows as a bloc o SADC. The DRC elec ions a e an icipa ed o b ing o h
escala ion o con lic as ension has been la ed h ough side-lining o key p esiden ial
aspi an s Bemba and Ka umbi ha had pos ula ed ha g oss i egula i ies in he Congo will
ha e ad e se e ec s ha will ipple he egional bloc. The mayhem p e and pos -elec ion in
DRC exposed he obus and adical hypoc isy o he egional bloc on, Zambia being he chai
on poli ics and de ence hen unde o me p esiden Lungu ailed o help Ka umbi who was
dined en y in o he DRC o ile his nomina ion pape s o he upcoming p esiden ial elec ion
scheduled o Decembe 2018. In 2021, Lungu and he Pa io ic on used he Co id 19
pandemic o y and hwa opposi ion campaigns hei main a ge was now p esiden
Hachilema whose suppo e s we e subjec ed o b u ali y and a bi a y a es s.
The g and coali ion by Bemba and Ka umbi o ield a common candida e posed a
se ious h ea o Kabila, se e al calls acco ding o he Mail & Gua dian we e made by Bemba
on SADC o in e ene in he squabbles aking cen e s age in he coun y such as he elec o al
o ing machines ha ha e ailed he li mus es in I aq and A ghanis an [15]. The call by he
opposi ion candida es o SADC o good go e nance and democ acy has o en ell on dea
ea s ha su p isingly ge a poli ical g ands anding esponse like he Zimbabwean con ex in
he a e ma h o he 2018 elec ions. The majo challenge acing SADC om adop ing an
asse i e diploma ic s ance on membe s a es is he libe a ion s uggle solida i y hey sha e.
The bigges es o he solida i y came om SADC obse e mission in 2023, highligh ed ha
he elec o al s anda ds ell sho o he SADC p o ocol and Guidelines Go e ning Democ a ic
Elec ions o 2015 ha help ensu e elec o al bes p ac ises. In 2017 and 2018 espec i ely
he legi imacy conund um has been a he epi ome o he SADC wi h (Zambia and Zimbabwe)
ha ing aced wi h S a e o he Na ion add ess boyco and walkou . Be e alluded ha no law
has been p omulga ed in Zimbabwe o compel he membe s o he augus house o emain
in he pa liamen building when he SONA is being add essed his signi ies an impasse in he
local poli ical a ena and ails o add ess he legi imacy conund um [16].
3.5 The S uggle o Powe and Vangua d Poli icking in SADC
SADC has been laced wi h a legi imacy poison his has spa ked con o e sy in he case
o Zimbabwe and his o y has hence he e o e li e ed wi h he collision o whe he Zimbabwe
is a de ac o o deju e s a e, his has le bo h he bloc and he na ion on en e hooks especially
a e pos -elec ion iolence ha ocked he s ee s o Ha a e. SADC has been known o be
he ha en o ac s o bandi y and au ho i a ianism in he name o being pa io ic and
acceding o demands o he angua d powe s a all expense. This has p o en o be he
weakes poin o he egional bloc and has g a ely exposed ha he block is inc easingly
i ele an o he in e nal poli ics o i s membe s a es and he big bo he poli icking by Sou h
A ica so happens o be pa o i s ailu e as a egional g ouping.
I seems ha SADC and i s mu ual ela ions wi h he angua d pa ies o he membe
s a es ha e been caugh in a p eca ious condi ion o gene a ional consensus Fanon asse s
ha 'Each gene a ion mus , ou o ela i e obscu i y disco e i s mission, ul il i , o be ay i
[17]. Egocen ism has been i e o he egional bloc ha has enee ed i o a li any o
