When Bullets Replace Ballots : The Role of SADC in Promoting Peace Through Democratic Governance in Zimbabwe

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is a region faced with a litany of security challenges that undermine its quest for peace. From its formation, collaboration in the area of peace and security was one of the aims of regional integration within SADC. In spite of the quest for peace, the region is fraught with armed revolts, social fissures and governance deficits which all combine to imperil peace and stability. Events in Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Lesotho and Madagascar provide ample evidence that the region still has challenges of peace and security. The military-induced transition in Zimbabwe (2017) and the post-election violence of August 1, 2018 have left SADC's quest for instituting an integrated security in the region under spotlight. Using qualitative document analysis, in collaboration with the security community theory, the paper argues that SADC has failed to promote peace through the institutionalization of democratic governance. The paper scrutinised the security cooperation and integration in SADC and questions the capacity of the regional body to establish a security community. The paper sought to contribute to the ongoing discussion about regional peace and security through the institutionalisation of democracy. Developments in Zimbabwe in 2017 call for the re-examination of the role and commitment of SADC's Organ on Politics Defence and Security Co-operation (OPDS) to the founding vision of the regional body. Thus, the paper presented compelling arguments that the commitment of SADC to the founding principles of the regional bloc especially on democratic governance are in danger of being made redundant by the unique nature of the unfolding events.