Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema is conspicuous by his absence at the 44th Ordinary Summit of Sadc Heads of State and Government that is underway in Harare as tension simmers between his country and neighbouring Zimbabwe.
On Friday, Hichilema who is the outgoing Sadc Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation chairperson, delivered his final report virtually.
Ahead of the summit, there was speculation that the Zambian leader will not travel to Zimbabwe because of a sour relationship with President Emmerson.
Mnangagwa was angered by a Sadc observer mission report that said Zimbabwe’s elections, which were held in August last year did not meet regional standards.
The Sadc mission was led by former Zambian vice president Nevers Mumba, who was appointed by Hichilema.
Hichilema on Friday said most elections held during his tenure were peaceful, but refrained from making reference to the Zimbabwean election.
"As the secretary said, elections are foremost, if you like, the ultimate in our democratic dispensations. And elections can be difficult, elections can be emotional. But we're very pleased that the elections that happened during our time, or the year that has passed, were reasonably peaceful and delivered leadership that now can be crowned as a bloc that we've maintained or managed to have a peaceful transition of leadership from one team to another during the last year,” he said.
“I must say that this is work in progress and look forward to the elections that are coming. And the latter part of this year, calendar year, and we want to encourage our ministries, our citizens in our individual countries to support electoral processes, to campaign, to conduct elections, as I said, so pre-election, during election, post-election, in a peaceful and tolerant manner, because that's what will keep our region steady.
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“And allow space for economic and social development to play its critical part, which is the area that we need to focus to deliver, because that's what we do.”
