SADC must crush the plague of opposition agitation

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) must abandon its feeble approach to dealing with the destructive chaos orchestrated by opposition political parties and take an uncompromising stand against their blatant role in fuelling post-election violence. These opposition groups have exposed themselves as nothing more than power-hungry, self-serving entities willing to burn nations to the ground in pursuit of their selfish ambitions. From Zimbabwe in 2018 to the recent bloodshed in Mozambique, these anarchists have shown complete contempt for democracy, human decency, and the lives of innocent citizens.

In Mozambique, opposition leader Venancio Mondlane's outright rejection of election results directly triggered violent protests, leading to over 30 deaths. This carnage is not an isolated incident but part of a sickening trend where opposition parties, unable to accept their failure, incite riots, destroy property, and spill innocent blood. The chaos that unfolded in Zimbabwe following the 2018 elections is yet another damning testament to the opposition's reckless and destructive nature. Their actions are nothing short of a premeditated attack on the democratic process and the stability of entire nations.

The audacity of these opposition figures to dress up their violence as "resistance" to oppression is a grotesque mockery of justice and decency. This excuse has allowed them to evade responsibility for the lives they have destroyed and the havoc they have unleashed. Enough of this nonsense! SADC must take an unrelenting stance, punishing these agitators with the severest measures available. Those who incite violence, directly or indirectly, must face harsh sanctions that leave no room for impunity. It is high time the region put an end to the toxic exploitation of democracy by these rogue elements.

But it doesn't stop with the opposition leaders alone. The enablers of this chaos - be they journalists, so-called activists, or organisations that parrot the opposition's divisive propaganda - must also be held accountable. Individuals like Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono and leaders of the opposition like Nelson Chamisa and Tendai Biti have been glorified by naïve supporters despite their roles in provoking unrest. These opportunists are nothing more than mercenaries and merchants of death, their ambitions steeped in the blood of the innocent. Their so-called activism is a cover for insidious agendas that prioritise political power over human life.

As SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi rightly emphasised, there are legal and peaceful avenues to resolve electoral disputes. But instead of choosing law and order, these defeated opposition parties resort to violent tantrums. The region cannot afford to keep turning a blind eye. SADC's failure to take immediate and severe action against these anarchists will embolden them further, plunging nations into deeper chaos and destroying public confidence in democratic processes.

SADC must act now - firmly, decisively, and without hesitation. No political party, no journalist, no organisation, and no so-called activist should be allowed to plunge nations into chaos and hold democracy hostage. The stability and survival of entire nations must not be sacrificed at the altar of political ambition. SADC must rise to its mandate and obliterate this cancer of opposition-driven violence. The time for diplomacy and soft words is over; it's time for unrelenting action to ensure peace, stability, and the protection of innocent lives. Anything less is tacit complicity.