President Emmerson Mnangagwa is leading Zimbabwe’s delegation this evening at an Extraordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit, convened virtually to address recent political developments within the regional bloc. The summit brings together heads of state and government to deliberate on the situation in Madagascar, where political unrest culminated in the ousting of the sitting SADC chairperson through a military takeover. Following these developments, the newly installed Malagasy authorities announced their withdrawal from the SADC chairmanship, prompting urgent regional intervention.
Interim SADC Chairperson, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, highlighted the urgency and significance of the summit. Speaking to fellow leaders, he emphasised the need for the region to act decisively, balancing the immediate need for stability with the long-term objectives of SADC.
“From its inception, SADC has stood as a beacon of solidarity, but also a community founded on the values of unity, peace, mutual benefit, and sovereign equality. As these very values are being tested by the convergence of challenges, we are called upon to act with both urgency and foresight to stabilise the present while safeguarding the future,” President Ramaphosa said.
He further underscored the role of collective action in navigating regional challenges, asserting that the bloc’s institutional strength remains a key asset. “The future of this organisation lies in our ability to earnestly deploy our institutional strength to find sustainable solutions to the challenges that we face. Indeed, the challenges confronting our region are profound, but they are also not terminal. Our collective sense of regional solidarity at this time is in many ways our strongest currency. Solidarity at this moment demands courage to act decisively in defence of age-long regional gains. The people of our region continue to look to us for leadership that delivers the vision of a peaceful, inclusive and industrialised region, which we have set ourselves to realise by 2050.”
President Mnangagwa Leads Zimbabwe at Extraordinary SADC Summit on Madagascar Crisis
SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi stressed that the change in leadership does not alter the bloc’s developmental priorities or shift its focus away from ongoing programmes. He explained that the summit’s primary purpose is to elect a new SADC chair to complete the remainder of Madagascar’s term, which is set to expire in August 2026. “This process will ensure that the SADC Troika leadership is complete in line with our founding treaty, the SADC Treaty, and that our organisation continues to function seamlessly while also ensuring uninterrupted progress towards deepening regional integration, economic development, peace, and security,” he noted.
Magosi also reaffirmed SADC’s commitment to the theme adopted during the 2025 Summit of Heads of State held in Antananarivo: “Promoting Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC.” He highlighted that, despite leadership changes, the region must remain committed to industrial growth, agricultural modernisation, and energy transition as key pillars for a resilient and integrated SADC. “The change of the SADC leadership does not entail a shift in our regional focus. Rather, we should remain persistent with this theme, which reaffirms our collective commitment to fostering industrial growth, agricultural modernisation, and adjusting energy transition as pillars of a resilient and integrated SADC region,” he said.
The political crisis in Madagascar is not unprecedented within the regional context. The country was previously suspended from SADC in 2009 following a similar political upheaval, with the ban lifted during the 2014 summit. More recently, the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) suspended Madagascar from all AU activities on October 15, citing an unconstitutional change of government. The PSC called for a rapid return to constitutional order through an inclusive civilian-led transition and elections, emphasizing the need for stability and adherence to democratic norms.
The extraordinary SADC summit represents a crucial moment for regional solidarity, as member states deliberate on measures to ensure that Madagascar’s political disruption does not undermine the bloc’s stability or derail ongoing development initiatives. The summit also underscores SADC’s commitment to safeguarding democratic principles and maintaining continuity in governance structures, even amid sudden changes in leadership.
President Mnangagwa’s participation reflects Zimbabwe’s active role in regional diplomacy and its commitment to supporting peace and stability across Southern Africa. Observers note that Zimbabwe’s input will be particularly valuable in fostering consensus on a measured and sustainable response to Madagascar’s crisis, ensuring that both regional security and developmental objectives are preserved.
The summit proceedings will focus on consolidating SADC’s leadership, reaffirming institutional continuity, and charting a roadmap for Madagascar’s return to constitutional order. Leaders are expected to deliberate on mechanisms for mediation, regional monitoring, and support for democratic transitions, while also reinforcing the bloc’s overarching agenda of regional integration, economic growth, and socio-political stability.
By convening this extraordinary summit, SADC demonstrates its commitment to proactive, collaborative leadership, ensuring that political crises within member states are addressed collectively while maintaining the integrity and developmental trajectory of the Southern African region.
Source- ZBC
