HARARE — The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced that the Republic of Zambia will assume the role of Deputy Chairperson and Incoming Chairperson, following the term of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as Interim Chairperson.
The announcement came during an Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, chaired by President Ramaphosa. In his remarks, Ramaphosa congratulated Zambia on the appointment and pledged close collaboration to advance peace and development in the region.
The summit also highlighted SADC’s ongoing commitment to regional stability. A panel of Elders and a mediation reference group has been deployed to Madagascar to support dialogue and ensure inclusive and credible elections. President Ramaphosa urged the people of Madagascar to embrace peace, unity, reconciliation, and development as the country prepares for upcoming elections, noting that the bloc welcomes the restoration of calm in Madagascar.
However, some observers have pointed out inaccuracies in SADC’s official communiqué, which referred to President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia personally rather than the Republic of Zambia as the incoming Chair.
Political analyst Prof. Jonathan Moyo emphasised that under the SADC Treaty, leadership roles rotate among member states, not individual leaders, and called for the record to be corrected to avoid confusion about accountability and continuity.
The timing of Zambia’s chairmanship has drawn attention due to the country’s next general elections, scheduled around 13 August 2026, coinciding with the usual period of SADC’s annual summit. Analysts note that even if President Hichilema’s political fortunes change following the elections, Zambia’s Chairmanship remains a national, not personal, responsibility.
SADC’s Extraordinary Summit not only addressed regional leadership transitions but also reviewed the findings of its fact-finding mission in Madagascar, reaffirming the bloc’s role in fostering political stability and regional cohesion.
