By Zakithi Sibandze
The 44th Ordinary Summit of the Head of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community was held in Harare, Republic of Zimbabwe under the theme: Promoting Innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an industrialized SADC. This regional event saw all SADC heads of state beside the Zambian president His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema. The SADC People’s SUMMIT is held along this head of states summit yet under a different theme: Reclaiming SADC for Peoples Development: Building People’s Power, Voice and Agency towards Democracy and Inclusion. This theme made more sense to us as we anticipated a people’s friendly position on the country crisis that engulfed us in recent years which saw many rural women losing lives, children, and jobs and so on. This made rural women conclude that only a democratic and inclusive country can guarantee growth, protection of women and girl child. The thematic focus included but not limited to, climate justice, economic justice, gender justice and women’s rights, governance and more other areas.
On the eve of the summit we learn that Eswatini has been removed from the Troika agenda as it claims problems that caused the political unrest are now settled and the country is on its peaceful path. This has made most women uncertain as we have not even seen the political dialogue that was promised and SADC leaders continue to be seen protecting each other at the expense of peace and responsibility to its people. The body has to be reminded that it has a role to promote peaceful peace among SADC and within. Building people’s power has not been more relevant than before more than this time. We need to strengthen our ties and build our solidarity programs more vigorously than before.
Despite these developments, the organization was able to have an in-country activity in line with the theme and the call for climate justice. We were able to convene at least close to 50 women while most followed online to an education session where facilitators took time to explore the SADC history, unpack its objectives to our sisters who were not so privy to understand more. We also have more time to talk of land and other issues affecting women.
We also welcome the commitment of the country in signing the SADC Declaration on the Protection of Persons with Albinism as this indicates a step towards the right direction. Women in particular, especially around or towards national elections, always witness a sharp increase in the killing of women living with albinism. Education and awareness raising campaigns must be initiated and developed to reach out to the most isolated rural person to help combat superstition and stigma associated with it.
With all the developments within this summit, we must continue our movement building until each and every government learns to listen to all the voices of the people and adhere to democracy and inclusivity for the development of all people and countries.
On the other hand the Swaziland Rural Women’s Assembly (SRWA) has joined Southern Africa Rural Women’s Assembly in country activities to look into a policy that protects seeds in Swaziland and the United Nation declaration on the rights of peasants which is a tool for advocacy that will give farmers right to land and protection of the indigenous seeds among other things. The activity was attended by 48 members who also consisted of young women within Swaziland.
