MNANGAGWA CONGRATULATES MOZAMBIQUE BEFORE ELECTION RESULTS ARE ANNOUNCED

In a move that many see as a serious overstep, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa congratulated Mozambique’s ruling party, Frelimo, and its candidate, Daniel Chapo, for winning the recent elections. What’s surprising is that the election results have not even been announced yet. This has raised questions about political interference and a lack of respect for the democratic process. Mnangagwa is currently the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which makes his actions even more important in the region.

Mozambicans voted on October 9th, and the official results are expected on Friday. Despite this, Mnangagwa already called it a “resounding victory” for Frelimo and Daniel Chapo. This has led to concerns over the independence of Mozambique’s Electoral Commission, which is supposed to be a neutral and constitutional body. By making such a statement before the commission announced the results, Mnangagwa’s actions have stirred up tensions both in Mozambique and in the surrounding region.

Since the elections, Mozambique has been dealing with protests and violent clashes. There have been serious allegations of vote manipulation, rigging, and fraud. Opposition activists claim that the elections were not fair, and many are frustrated with how things have turned out. Riot police have been clashing with supporters of Chapo’s main rival, Venancio Mondlane. These protests have resulted in the deaths of several opposition supporters, which has made the situation even more tense.

Observers from different missions reported that the elections were flawed and included instances of fraud. They noted that there were significant irregularities in the process. However, despite these findings, Mnangagwa has already endorsed the elections and their results. This is seen as a direct violation of the Mozambican constitution and SADC guidelines on democratic elections. The guidelines are meant to ensure fairness and transparency in the voting process, but it seems that these principles have been ignored.

Mnangagwa’s decision to congratulate Frelimo and Chapo so early has reminded many of what happened during Zimbabwe’s elections last August. During those elections, Mnangagwa’s re-election was heavily criticized by the SADC election observer mission. The mission was led by Nevers Mumba, a former vice president of Zambia. They reported that Zimbabwe’s elections were also flawed and not in line with democratic principles. As a result, there were divisions within the region, and tensions rose between Mnangagwa and the Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.

It seems that Mnangagwa’s latest actions could lead to similar divisions within the region. As the chair of SADC, he is expected to uphold the region’s standards and principles. However, his early endorsement of an unannounced election result goes against these principles and raises questions about his intentions.

The political situation in Mozambique is getting worse as protests and violence continue. Opposition supporters feel that their voices are not being heard, and they have taken to the streets to express their frustration. The heavy presence of riot police has only added to the tension, and it’s unclear how the situation will unfold in the coming days.

Mnangagwa’s actions are likely to spark further regional debate and criticism. By endorsing the election results before they were officially announced, he has shown disregard for the constitutional processes in Mozambique. This could create further problems for both Zimbabwe and the broader SADC region.

In the end, many are left wondering why Mnangagwa acted so hastily and what his real motives are. The situation in Mozambique remains tense, and all eyes will be on the upcoming announcement of the election results. For now, it’s clear that Mnangagwa’s move has added fuel to an already unstable political climate, not just in Mozambique but possibly throughout the region. The hope is that cooler heads will prevail, and the election process in Mozambique will be allowed to continue according to its laws and regulations.

In the meantime, it remains to be seen how this will impact regional politics and relations between SADC member states. But one thing is certain: Mnangagwa’s early congratulations have not gone unnoticed, and the consequences could be significant for both Zimbabwe and Mozambique.