Abstract:
Peace is one of the most contested research agendas in security studies. In recent times, proactive efforts
towards peace have been epitomized by a peacemaking agenda that has been seen to be regional and
home-grown in its approach. The experience in Africa indicates that the continent has been
progressively advancing conflict resolution approaches which have been generally characterised by the
logic of solidarity and respect of sovereignty. But at the heart of this daunting task lies the question of
leadership and interests, which keep haunting comprehensive peace efforts of the continent. Southern
Africa has been looking to South Africa as a pacesetter in SADC’s peace agenda yet its efforts towards
peacemaking seem to be encapsulated within a rather naive approach of quiet diplomacy. Hence, this
paper argues that by accommodating the quiet diplomacy approach in the resolution of regional conflicts,
SADC may be jeopardising its own commitment to peace and security, making it subject to capture by
powerful interests. And the tendency to tolerate impunity on the basis of gradual reforms further shows
the weakness of the approach as a credible peacemaking strategy. This paper draws lessons from the
mediation efforts of South Africa in the Zimbabwe crisis.
