As the week ends today, the biggest news was how Donald Trump made a political comeback to win in the United States Presidential elections.
The Republicans reclaimed the Senate and are on course to control the House of Representatives in a clean sweep which gives the party powers to change policy.
It was the biggest story in the world that saw Zimbabweans joining in the debate.
However, as Zimbabweans were engrossed in the Trump debate, the country’s neighbour, Mozambique, is burning after a controversial election triggered violence across that country.
As a region, Sadc is troubled especially under the leadership of Zimbabwe after President Emmerson Mnangagwa assumed chairmanship of the regional bloc in August this year.
Refreshingly, the region has been spared the headaches of another challenging act after the elections in Botswana ended peacefully with the successful handing over of power to Boko Duma from former President Mokgweetsi Masisi.
That, surely, spared Mnangagwa some blushes.
Mnangagwa took over the Sadc chairmanship when the region is going through one of its most challenging times and when the region is suffering one of its most devastating drought.
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An estimated 30 million people in Sadc are in dire need of food aid and what we have experienced is that the traditional donors have not been forthcoming with aid to assist struggling countries.
What Mnangagwa and the region does not need at the moment is a crisis like what is currently unfolding in Mozambique.
For a fact, and indeed for Mnangagwa and his fellows in the former revolutionary movements, their parties have lost the allure they had before.
The loss of a majority by the African National Congress in South Africa, the problems being faced in Mozambique and, lately, the trouncing of the ruling party in Botswana could be a signal that former liberation movements are on their way out.
But as Zimbabwe prepares to host the Sadc Extra Ordinary Summit in Harare from November 16 to 20, it is time Mnangagwa comes to the party and provides the leadership that is expected of him as head of the bloc.
Zimbabwe provided leadership, counsel and refuge for regional countries such as South Africa and Namibia during their war of liberation and it is time to prove that the country can rise to the occasion.
We stand a chance to douse the flames in Mozambique while protecting and providing leadership to Namibia as it prepares for its own general elections.
Zanu PF has been accused of interference in regional elections, a charge the party denies.
Beyond that, we are sure that Zimbabwe can step up and lead without fear or favour as expected of the regional chairmanship’s position.
