Zimbabwe is one of the richest countries in Africa, endowed with vast reserves of gold, diamonds, platinum, chrome, iron, coal and so on. Zimbabwe is home to one of the Wonders of the World – the Victoria Falls and countless other tourist attractions. Misgovernance by ZANU PF has brought poverty and ruin to the country. 

While millions of Zimbabweans wallow in poverty, a few elites have made South Africa and SADC their safe havens to hide their ill-gotten wealth.  As concerned SADC citizens, we cannot just close our eyes and watch corrupt Zimbabwean politicians hiding their loot in our countries while hospitals in Zimbabwe are severely under equipped. Government officials like the minister of Health, General Chiwenga, regularly fly for medical care in China and other countries. Isn’t it unfair that Zimbabweans are starving yet current and former government officials have purchased multi-million rand properties on our soil? Isn’t it unfair that SADC countries continue to host Zimbabwean politicians who fly in using private jets yet the country cannot even afford paying doctors in public hospitals!

International media has been reporting about corruption scandals running into millions of $US that have prejudiced poor Zimbabweans of decent lives but nothing has happened to the perpetrators. For how long shall the SADC governments protect heartless Zimbabwean politicians who own multiple farms and have unlimited access to foreign currency through the Zimbabwean Reserve Bank yet the millions of Zimbabweans spend hours in ques to withdraw worthless bond notes from the banks!

Journalists reporting on corruption have been arrested and detained for doing their work! The Zimbabwean government has banned people from protesting against the corruption in the country. Many government critics have been abducted and tortured. Those accused of gross corruption are walking free while those who have exposed graffiti have been jailed. The country’s institutions have been militarised and the judiciary has been captured by the state.

Innocent civilians have been shot by the security forces in Harare. Women have been sexually abused. Many have been abducted and tortured by security forces but no single word of condemnation has ever come from Pretoria, Gaborone, Maputo, Windhoek! As concerned SADC citizens we have to take a stand and pressure the leaders in the region to listen to the crying voices of Zimbabweans. For SADC and the AU, true solidarity means supporting the people of Zimbabwe in their struggle against an evil and oppressive regime that is equally as brutal as the former Apartheid regime.

As concerned SADC citizens we ask SADC leaders to ban the following Zimbabwean politicians from entering SADC countries for their roles in promoting and sustaining corruption and human rights abuses in Zimbabwe: 

Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa (President); Auxilia Mnangagwa (First Lady) Collins Mnangagwa (Son); Sean Mnangagwa (Son); Constantino Guvheya Chiwenga (Vice President); Kembo Mohadi (Vice President); Oppah Muchinguri (Defence Minister); Owen Mudha Ncube (State Security Minister) Mthuli Ncube (Finance Minister); Sibusiso Moyo (Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade); John Panonetsa Mangudya (Reserve Bank Governor);  Valerio Sibanda (Army Commander); Godwin Matanga (Police Commissioner); Nick Mangwana; George Charamba; Energy Mutodi; Obert Mpofu; Patrick Chinamasa; Luke Malaba (Chief Justice); Priscilla Chigumba; Kudakwashe Tagwirei