Coordinator’s Brief and brutality in the recent past are a Tanzania, Malawi, Democratic testimony to the urgent need for Republic of Congo, Swaziland, reclaiming the democratic space in Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, the region. In Zimbabwe the state Zimbabwe and Lesotho are thus has become more brutal and vicious alleged to be authoring and presiding since the departure of Robert Mugabe over the death of the promise of and to date the country has had the liberation: Democracy; which they largest number of activists charged were once epitomized. In fact, the with treason since the military ‘Liberators’ have turned ‘Oppressors’. takeover by Emmerson Mnangagwa The current situation in Southern BY BLESSING VAVA in November 2017. Swaziland Africa flies in the face of the post- (Regional Coordinator - Crisis in remains a problem child under the independence wave of ‘democratic Zimbabwe Coalition) absolute monarchy of King Mswati transitions’, particularly in the context with scores of activists either being of what has been largely referred to The SADC region is now emerging as jailed or having to skip the border as the ‘third wave of democratization’ one of the hotspots in the continent for their safety. Zambia under that swept across Africa with the despite it witnessing transitions and President Edgar Lungu has regressed introduction of multi-party electoral change of leaders in the previous and worsened from being a free and democracy. Beginning in 1989, After years. Though the region has seen a open society to an increasing the fall of the Berlin Wall, the region change of leaders in Botswana, authoritarian as the government has underwent a transition from one Zambia, Angola, South Africa, been on a relentless campaign to party-state/dominion to mult- Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), clampdown on civil society activists. partyism. This led to new governments Mozambique and recently Zimbabwe The DRC, Malawi and Mozambique ascending to power in Zambia, in the last quarter of 2017, democratic have witnessed electoral malpractices Tanzania and Malawi with great space has been shrinking as that have led to the elections being promise of transparency, good witnessed by the increase in human disputed as a true representation of governance and economic rights violations. the “people’s will”. transformation. Two decades later, the results have been rather The increasing levels and alarming Essentially, civic work is becoming disappointing as witnessed by consistency with which governments dangerous in most countries across increased corruption, poor service in Southern Africa are muzzling the region with some (countries) delivery and undemocratic electoral democratic governance, violating adopting laws aimed at constraining processes that continue to produce human rights, manipulating elections the operations of Non-Governmental heavily contested electoral outcomes. and suppressing people’s democratic Organisations (NGOs) as part of what aspirations through brute force of is described as a broader strategy by Off late, there are increasing attempts various other political chicanery has African governments to narrow space and a shift in strategies and tactics been appalling. for democratic activity. Consequently, by governments in Southern Africa countries like Tanzania, Zambia, to close the little available democratic Countries such as Zimbabwe, Malawi, Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique space. Southern African governments DR Congo, Madagascar and have lined up such laws to control have adopted subtle and deft control Mozambique whose elections were and monitor the operations of NGOs and suppression means hinged on riddled with contestation, violence deemed political. Ruling elites in ‘strict legalism’ and ‘rule by law rather LEAD EDITOR: TAMUKA CHIRIMAMBOWA DEMOCRACY UNDER THREAT IN SADC: SHRINKING OF DEMOCRATIC SPACE IN SADC 1 than rule of law’. In simple terms, Swaziland, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Equally, the compendium comes governments have found it prudent Tanzania, South Africa and DRC. Other against a background of activities to pay lip service to democratic norms participants included representatives and work done by the Crisis in whilst, practising authoritarianism of key South African, Southern African Zimbabwe Coalition with its civil informed by benign politics, hence and International NGOs and think society partners in SADC over the giving rise to the discourse of tanks as well as research institutions years in contribution to the restoration competitive authoritarian regimes. based in South Africa. of democracy in the region. Ever since, Instead of using primitive and crude the CiZC convened the first-ever tactics of violence and naked brutality, Inputs and discussions allowed more regional conference on ‘The Shrinking they are now moving to annihilate detailed engagements on the status of Democratic Space’ from 21 - 22 civic space through the enactment of of the state of democracy and human November 2017 in Johannesburg, draconian laws that seek to curtail rights in the region, in particular, the South Africa. Pursuant to that, the the operating space of civil society challenges being faced by human Zimbabwean civil society under the organisations (CSOs). Countries such rights defenders (common and leadership of the Coalition made as Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia and country-specific), zooming in on the inroads in engaging the regional body Swaziland have thus, taken the lead practical opportunities for civil society SADC organs, namely the SADC in criminalizing human rights and and how it may organise to address Secretariat in Botswana in 2018 and development work in their respective these challenges. The country also the historic meeting with then countries. The same period has also positions, herein contained in this SADC Chairperson President Hage seen increased arrests, abductions compendium answered critical Geingob of Namibia on the 30th of and surveillance on human rights questions on what needs to be done October 2018. These actions are part defenders and activists. to address these challenges and who of the coalition’s work regionally in should civil society engage and how? trying to bring to attention the This compendium gives a The conference sought to fulfil the democratic deficits which need the kaleidoscopic view of the SADC following objectives; urgent attention of SADC. region’s hotspots giving a snapshot overview of the prevailing situation. • Share, Learn and Review country- The compendium also proved to be It gives an outline of the various level positions on the state of a useful discussion document at this human rights violations in specific democracy and human rights, and year's SADC Peoples Conference held countries, then moves on to articulate together consolidate regional in Tanzania in August 2019 and it proposals of what needs to be done positions and a strategy for a helped broaden conversations during particularly by the regional body coordinated regional level the sessions on Shrinking Democratic (SADC) and finally, proposes possible democracy campaign targeting Space, convened by Crisis in action points by social and solidarity Zimbabwe Coalition. Therefore, this hot-spot countries as a way of movements in the region that may publication is an important step and defending and deepening assist in restoring democracy in the part of the many efforts aimed at democracy in Southern Africa, region. This publication is a collective building and strengthening agency of country positions as presented by of civic organisations working on various civil society leaders at the • Review, kick start and strengthen democratisation and liberalizing civic Crisis in Zimbabwe Regional action-oriented processes that space. It works on the development Conference on ‘Shrinking connect people's ongoing daily hypothesis that a coordinated and Democratic Space’ held in South struggles against environmental, stronger than ever civil society voice Africa on the 27th of June 2019. The social and economic injustices to will, in turn, sustain pressure on conference brought together interventions against political governments to respect and uphold representatives from social injustices. human rights as well as begin to movements, churches, labour and make solid commitments to other non-state actors drawn from • Create space for continuous democratisation. at least 9 SADC countries: dialogue with policy-makers on Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, key issues identified. 2 DEMOCRACY UNDER THREAT IN SADC: SHRINKING OF DEMOCRATIC SPACE IN SADC Wither Democracy and Human Rights in SADC? (Civic Space, Dissent and Basic Rights) was met with widespread • Coups are driven by different disapproval and ostracism from the factors such as ethnicity, region and globally, the continent factionalism, greed, inequality; went on to encounter at least 22 more coups in the decade of • Coups are about legitimizing independence with more than military structures in civilian rule. 109 know attempts to overthrow The promise to return to civilian governments1. Over the years rule is never realized. Southern Africa has recorded successful coup d’éats in Democratic • That the liberation struggle did BY VONGAI CHIKWANDA Republic of Congo (2), Lesotho (3), not usher in a functional Comoros (5), Seychelles (1) democracy but a colonial Southern Africa is at a pre- Madagascar (3) and Zimbabwe (1). mirrored governance; independence crisis (when the Unsuccessful attempts were in quest for liberation was inevitable) Zambia (1990 and 1997 and • That political democracy