African Leaders Summit in Zimbabwe

— African leaders are set to convene in Harare on Saturday for a summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), where the escalating mpox outbreaks across the continent are expected to be a key topic. The World Health Organization recently declared these outbreaks a global health emergency, with the Democratic Republic of Congo reporting over 90% of cases. The disease, previously confined to central and West Africa, has now spread to more than a dozen countries, raising concerns about a new, potentially more infectious variant identified in Congo. As the summit approaches, South Africa's Democratic Alliance party has urged its delegates to prioritize discussions on mpox, emphasizing the rapid changes in the outbreak's dynamics. While South Africa and neighboring nations have reported only a few cases, the party warns that the situation could escalate quickly, as evidenced by Congo's large outbreak. However, the summit is overshadowed by criticism regarding Zimbabwe's human rights record. The United Nations and various human rights organizations have condemned the government's recent crackdown, which has seen over 160 activists and opposition members arrested, including a mother and her infant. Calls for their release have intensified, highlighting the political climate as Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa prepares to assume the SADC's rotational leadership. In a bid to present a favorable image, Zimbabwe has undertaken infrastructure improvements ahead of the summit, including road repairs and promises of reliable utilities for delegates, despite ongoing challenges faced by its citizens. Critics argue that the summit may sidestep pressing human rights issues in favor of more palatable discussions.