SADC Silent As Mozambique's Post-Election Violence Rages On

 

Podemos leader Venâncio Mondlane

It is extremely infuriating that the toothless Southern African Development Community (SADC), supposedly a guardian of regional peace and security, is sitting back as post-election violence rages on in Mozambique.

The nation of 34-million people is part of the impotent SADC bloc aimed at achieving peace and security, economic growth, democratic principles and equitable and sustainable development within its 16-member states.

While African leaders like South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa were quick to congratulate U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on his sweeping victory, their silence on the crises unfolding across their own continent is deafening.

It appears that African leaders remain unmoved and could not be bothered that Mozambique’s October 9 general election has been tainted by rampant irregularities, brutal violence, mass protests, and targeted political assassinations.

I couldn't help but compare Mozambique’s election to Botswana’s recent one, where former president Mokgweetsi Masisi gracefully conceded defeat, allowing a seamless transition of power to opposition leader—and now President—Duma Boko. In contrast, Mozambique's election has been a chaotic mess, marked by violence, corruption and fraud allegations, and a stubborn grip on power that shows no respect for democracy and the will of the people.

Botswana’s October 30 election ended the Botswana Democratic Party’s decades-long grip on power, breaking its rule over the diamond-rich nation since independence from Britain in 1966.

Meanwhile, the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) has ruled Mozambique since independence in 1975, facing constant accusations from opposition parties of corruption, maladministration, and election rigging.

Frelimo, the former liberation party with strong ties to South Africa’s ANC—whose support recently plunged from 57% to 40% during the May 29 election—denies all allegations of corruption and election rigging.

The European Union (EU) has effectively described Mozambique's October 9 elections for president, parliament, and provincial assemblies as neither free nor fair.

The EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) said EU observers were prevented to observe tabulation processes in some districts and provinces, as well as at the national level.

It noted “irregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results at polling station and district level”.

“In view of the social tensions and electoral related violence witnessed in recent days, the EU EOM reiterates its condemnation of the killings of Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe, and wishes to call for utmost restraint by all and for the respect for fundamental freedoms and political rights,” the EU EOM said in a statement.

Dias was Podemos leader Venâncio Mondlane’s lawyer while Guambe was Podemos parliamentary candidate

The EU EOM said it would remain in Mozambique and issue a final report, including its assessment and recommendations for improvement of the electoral framework.

Mozambique’s National Elections Commission announced on October 24 that Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo received 70.67% of the vote, but Mondlane, who received 20.3% of voter share, has disputed the veracity of the election results.

He claimed this week to have escaped an assassination attempt in South Africa where he has since taken refuge following the disputed outcome of last month’s general election.

Renamo presidential candidate Ossufo Momade received 5.8% of the vote. The election results are yet to be validated by the Constitutional Council, Mozambique’s highest body in matters of constitutional and electoral law.

Daniel Chapo with outgoing president Filipe Nyusi

As Mozambique drags its feet on validating election results, frustration is boiling over, with disgruntled youth and opposition supporters flooding the streets, and about 20 have already paid with their lives.

How many more lives must be lost in what is essentially state-sanctioned violence before the authorities and regional bodies are forced to act?

The continuing deadly violence has resulted in South Africa’s Border Management Authority closing the Lebombo port of entry for what it called safety reasons. The border post is a major economic trade route between South Africa and Mozambique, with nearly 2,000 trucks passing through its gates daily.

This was evident by the long queues of buses and trucks stuck on the South African side as violence rages on in the Mozambican side of the (Ressano Garcia) border, where vehicles have been attacked and set alight.

If prolonged this could have a negative effect on commerce between the two trading partners. In 2023, South Africa exported $6.18bn to Mozambique and Mozambique reciprocated by importing $2.34bn from South Africa.

The department of international relations & cooperation (Dirco), in a statement on Wednesday, said Dirco minister Ronald Lamola had a telephone call with his Mozambican counterpart, Verónica Macamo, and reflected on the current security situation in Mozambique post elections.

This highlights the growing geopolitical stakes of the post-election security crisis in Mozambique.

“Mozambique is experiencing outbreaks of protests in the aftermath of the general elections. South Africa expresses concern at the outbreak of incidents of post-electoral violence and regrets the loss of lives and destruction of property, we once again reiterate the call made by various leaders in Mozambique to the law enforcement agencies to speedily investigate these incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Lamola’s spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said.

“South Africa calls for calm and restraint, to allow the electoral process to conclude successfully, and give the Constitutional Court of Mozambique time and space to validate the election results in accordance with its mandate.”

“Furthermore,” said Phiri, “South Africa welcomes the convening of the SADC Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit and the SADC Extraordinary Summit on 20 November 2024 in Zimbabwe, where SADC Heads of State will receive a report on the recent political developments in the region, including elections in Mozambique, Botswana, and Mauritius. These summits will be preceded by meetings of senior officials and Ministers, from 15 November 2024.” 

Dirco encouraged all South Africans to “postpone non-essential visits to [Mozambique] until further notice”.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission has also weighed in on the situation in Mozambique and condemned the “of Mr Elvino Dias and Mr Paulo Gambe and expresses his sincere condolences to their families”.

“The chairperson calls on the Mozambican security authorities to undertake the necessary investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice. The chairperson continues to closely monitor the aftermath of the conduct of the general elections in Mozambique held on 9 October 2024 and expresses deep concern of the reported cases of post- election violence and in particular the recent killings.”

Mahamat urged all political actors to maintain a “peaceful disposition as the country awaits the official declaration of the final results by the Constitutional Council”.

“In this regard, the chairperson calls for calm and utmost restraint while urging all political parties and their supporters to allow due process in the overall supreme interest of stability in Mozambique.”

Frelimo's Daniel Chapo 

In a joint statement last month, the U.S. Embassy in Mozambique said: “We, the U.S. Embassy, the High Commission of Canada, the Embassy of Norway, the Embassy of Switzerland, the High Commission of the United Kingdom, as part of the international community, join Mozambicans in condemning the killing of Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe and extending our heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones.

“We strongly condemn any act of political violence and call for a swift and thorough investigation. We urge all citizens, political leaders, state institutions, and stakeholders to resolve electoral disputes peacefully and lawfully, rejecting violence and inflammatory rhetoric.”

Post-electoral violence in Africa is a stark reflection of strongmen politics, where losing leaders resort to underhanded tactics to cling to power, often disregarding the will of citizens demanding real change. And it’s quite embarrassing to say the least.

South Africa’s opposition political parties have weighed in on the matter, calling for more transparency on the election process and counting of votes. The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it condemned the presidential election, saying Chapo’s supposed victory “is not only suspect but indicative of a deeply compromised electoral process”.

“Reports of blatant fraud, vote tampering, and intimidation have cast a dark shadow over Mozambique’s democracy. Observers, including the European Union, documented ‘irregularities during counting and unjustified alterations of results at polling stations’. These findings raise serious concerns about the legitimacy of the election and the violation of Mozambican citizens’ right to freely choose their leaders,” DA spokesperson on international relations, Emma Louise Powell, said.

“Most disturbingly, the violent assassination of two advisers to Venâncio Mondlane, Chapo’s leading opponent, have added to an atmosphere of fear and suppression. Elvino Dias, Mondlane’s lawyer, and a spokesperson for the Podemos party were gunned down just days before the announcement of official results. Such acts of political violence undermine trust in the country’s institutions and cast a grim pall over this election,” she said.

“SADC has a critical role to play in ensuring peace, democracy, and stability in the region. We call on the SADC to urgently intervene and demand an independent recount of the votes. Only through transparency and accountability can the will of the Mozambican people be recognised.”

Powell said failure to address these irregularities could fuel further unrest and civil disobedience, with the threat of escalating violence looming large.

“Regional leaders cannot ignore the voices of Mozambique’s youth and civil society who seek a future free from corruption and repression. Now, more than ever, Mozambique needs strong, principled leadership to avoid further instability.

“The DA, as part of South Africa’s Government of National Unity, urges the SADC to act swiftly, with a commitment to uphold democratic principles and prevent a crisis that could reverberate across southern Africa. South Africa stands with the people of Mozambique in their demand for a fair and just electoral process.”

Mondlane addressing supporters

Bongani Masuku, international secretary for Cosatu, said the labour federation noted the outcomes of the recently held general elections in Botswana and Mozambique.

Masuku said Cosatu, a key ally of the ANC, joins the international community in congratulating the people of Botswana for a peaceful, transparent and credible election, “basing itself on the constitution of the country, SADC protocols and other international instruments on democracy, good governance and ethical conduct”.

“Cosatu further congratulates the exemplary transfer of power from one administration to the next without violence, tensions or resistance. It reflects the depth of the democratic culture and progress in the development of governance institutions in the country and society as a whole,” he said.

On Mozambique, Cosatu called for calm, transparency and proper due processes in the election outcomes. “As Cosatu we know too well the pains our Mozambican brothers and sisters have endured due to years of wars and conflict since the defeat of colonialism and apartheid aggression,” Masuku said.

“Towards this end, it is our most sincere expression of hope that the situation will be resolved peacefully, and all parties agree to a fair and credible settlement that puts the country and the people first.”

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said it strongly condemned the Mozambican government’s “brutal crackdown on its citizens who are exercising their right to protest against their recent election process”.

“Opposition supporters have challenged the credibility of these elections, asserting that Frelimo, the ruling party, engaged in widespread fraud to secure victory,” EFF national spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys said.

“Reports indicate that over 20 people have been killed, more than 390 injured, and around 800 arbitrarily detained. This scale of state violence constitutes a humanitarian crisis and highlights a regime intent on oppressing its people rather than protecting them.”

Mathys said the EFF demands that the Mozambican government immediately “halt its violent tactics against unarmed protesters, restore internet access and release those detained without justification”.

“We call on the African Union, SADC and international humanitarian rights bodies intervene urgently and take action against this repression,” Mathys said.

When will Africa finally say enough to post-election violence? How many more lives must be shattered before selfish, egotistical and self-centred leaders choose peace over power? 

Meanwhile, if you were hoping for a tough stance on Mozambique's post-election violence at the SADC Extraordinary Summit held in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Wednesday (November 20), you'll be disappointed.

In a communique on Thursday (November 21) to announce the summit's outcomes, SADC said: "The Summit commended the Republics of Mozambique, Botswana and Mauritius for successfully holding peaceful elections and congratulated the newly elected leaders namely, […] President Duma Gideon Boko, of the Republic of Botswana, and Honourable Dr. Navin Ramgoolam, the Prime Minister of Mauritius.

"Summit received an update from His Excellency Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique on the post-election political and security situation in the country and reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to work with the Republic of Mozambique in ensuring peace, security and stability through the relevant structures of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. Summit extended condolences to the Government and people of the Republic of Mozambique for the lives lost during the post-election violence."

The useless SADC has long been criticised as a boys' club, where power dynamics remain unchanged, and meetings are filled with the same old resolutions that never lead to real action or tangible results. This is set to continue until there's a shift in how decisions are made. Failure to do so will leave the region stuck in perpetual stagnation and being the skunk of the world.