ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENT SPARKS CONTROVERSY BY CONGRATULATING MOZAMBICAN CANDIDATE BEFORE RESULTS

In a surprising move that has raised eyebrows across the region, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa congratulated Mozambique’s ruling party, Frelimo, and its presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, for their victory in the recent elections. The odd part of this situation is that the election results have not been officially announced yet. The Mozambique Electoral Commission, which is an independent and neutral body, is still processing the results. The elections were held on October 9, and the results are expected to come out by Friday. However, Mnangagwa has already announced his congratulations, creating confusion and concern.

This action by Mnangagwa has been seen as disrespectful to the constitutional process in Mozambique. It is considered an interference in a neighbouring country’s political affairs, something that could lead to a strong reaction from other countries in the Southern African region. Mnangagwa is currently the chair of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional body that helps maintain peace and cooperation among its member states. His role in SADC makes this action even more surprising, as it goes against the usual diplomatic behaviour expected of someone in such a position.

What makes this situation even more serious is that Mozambique is currently dealing with protests and violence related to the election. There are accusations that the vote was manipulated, with claims of rigging and fraud. These accusations have sparked clashes between the police and opposition supporters. Opposition activists have reportedly been killed during these violent protests, further escalating the tension in the country. The opposition, led by Venancio Mondlane, is not happy with how the election was conducted and has accused the ruling party of cheating.

Election observers, who are supposed to monitor the elections and ensure fairness, have reported several problems with the election process in Mozambique. This includes claims of electoral fraud, which further complicates the situation. Despite all these concerns and ongoing tensions, Mnangagwa went ahead and endorsed the election results before they were even officially released. This is seen as a violation of both the Mozambican constitution and the principles of SADC, which require free and fair elections in member states.

For Mnangagwa, this is not the first time he has been involved in election controversies. His own re-election in Zimbabwe last year, in August, was disputed and rejected by the SADC election observer mission. This mission was led by former Zambian vice president Nevers Mumba, who pointed out several irregularities in the Zimbabwean election. The rejection of Mnangagwa’s re-election caused tension within the SADC region, particularly between Mnangagwa and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.

This recent congratulatory message to Chapo, before the official results have been announced, only adds to Mnangagwa’s controversial track record. It also risks creating further divisions within the region. Many are now questioning whether Mnangagwa’s actions are in line with the democratic values that SADC is supposed to stand for.

As Mozambique waits for the official election results, the situation remains tense. The protests and violence show no signs of stopping, and the claims of electoral fraud continue to fuel anger among opposition supporters. In such a delicate situation, Mnangagwa’s premature congratulations may have only added fuel to the fire. His actions could lead to further unrest in Mozambique and may also impact relations between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, as well as the broader SADC region.

For now, the people of Mozambique are waiting to see what the final election results will show. But one thing is clear: Mnangagwa’s actions have created unnecessary controversy and have raised questions about the role of leaders in respecting the democratic processes of neighbouring countries.