AFRICAN DIPLOMACY IN CRISIS: ZIMBABWE AND ZAMBIA’S FRAYING RELATIONS
It is alarming to note that dishonesty pervades our global landscape. Just six days ago, the President of Zimbabwe, Mnangagwa, engaged in a cordial meeting with his Zambian counterpart, Hakainde Hichilema, with the two leaders shaking hands in a display of amity. Yet, in a stunning turn of events, Mnangagwa has flown to Russia and accused the United States of plotting to attack him through Zambia, a claim that warrants serious consideration and scrutiny.
This development raises several pressing questions:
1. Last month, a close associate of the Zambian president, Edgar Lungu, hinted at the possibility of Zambia holding elections before 2026, sparking speculation about the feasibility of such a move.
2. During Zimbabwe’s elections last year, officials from the ruling Zanu-pf party issued a veiled threat to Hakainde Hichilema, warning him against interfering in Zimbabwean affairs, lest he suffer the same fate as the late Zambian president, Levy Mwanawasa, who allegedly died under mysterious circumstances after meddling in Zimbabwean politics.
Given these tensions, it is perplexing that President Mnangagwa chose to seek protection from Russia rather than addressing his concerns through the African Union, a move that undermines regional solidarity. Furthermore, allowing journalists to capture these discussions, which should have been held behind closed doors, raises questions about the sincerity of the diplomatic efforts.
In light of these developments, it remains to be seen whether Zimbabwe and Zambia can maintain their diplomatic relations, and whether Africa will continue to witness such blatant disregard for regional cooperation and solidarity.
It’s time for Zambia to recall its High Commissioner to Zimbabwe for consultation. I find this extremely troubling. It’s reasonable to assume that Emerson Mnangagwa is already working through the opposition to bring down HH’s government. I fear that they’re planning to administer slow-killing poison to HH or they hv done that already.
Now the praise singers are suggesting that their small god may already have been poisoned by Zim operatives.
Really? Are you people normal?
We need to remove you from office because your methods are best practices from Lucifer himself.
Vote wisely in 2026.
Another ploy to deflect opposition scrutiny for UPND’s failure to govern.
HH should not undermine Edgar Lungu’s relationship with Munangagwa. Those two are both evil serpents with the same intention.
Zambia needs to reassess the country and regional relationships between the two.
The Zimbabwe president is one of those ungrateful cabal of leaders from that Zimbabwe. After all of those sacrifices Zambia made for their independence, ZANU politicians including Munangagwa remained cold towards Zambia and never really showed appreciation for Zambia’s unquestionable support.
Enough is enough, Zambia needs to do something and we cannot go on pretending that all is good when it is not!
Munangagwa is as Evil and Edgar Lungu; HH be careful.
The most useless citizens are the unpatriotic ones. Zimbwabwians will support their government and country, Congolese will support their own. But the useless ones here are always in support of foreigners. Their president is working hard to bring dignity and improve their economy but all they do is faulty find.
Zimbabwe has a collapsed economy due the failed leadership and policies of Munagangwa and consequently Emerson envys the foreign investment his Zambian counterpart is attracting hence his baseless accusations. Zambia stands nothing to benefit from destabilizing Zimbabwe, there are already thousands of undocumented Zimbabweans that fled Into Zambia due to bad Governance by Emerson.
Zambian Govt should not tolerate nosense like this from Emerson, he should solve the problem Zim is facing instead playing the blame game.
Mnangagwa is just scared of his own shadow. The US has a military presence in Botswana. They are strongly represented in South Africa and Angola.
Russia which has been Zambia’s close friend since the Soviet Era, supplies all sorts of military equipment to Zambia and would find it difficult to help Zimbabwe in its little quarrels with neighbors.
Mnangagwa should just sort his domestic problems without looking for a master to flex muscles for Harare. Russia, China and USA have more strategic fires to stock. Mnangagwa is looking for excuses for his failure at home so he can only conclude that old foe Washington will use all his neighbors to invade Zimbabwe. How schizophrenic!