President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the current SADC Chair, has prematurely congratulated FLERIMO’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, on his supposed victory in Mozambique’s elections.
This announcement comes before the official election results, expected on Friday, 25 October 2024.
Mnangagwa’s statement celebrating a “resounding victory” has raised eyebrows, particularly given the violent and contested nature of the elections.
He stated, “I congratulate our sister revolutionary party, FLERIMO, and the President-Elect, His Excellency, Cde Daniel Chapo, as well as the people of Mozambique on their resounding victory during the recently held elections. Zanu PF stands ready to cement the long-existing revolutionary unity between our two parties and countries.”
However, Mnangagwa’s message made no mention of the violence that marred the election process, which has led to the deaths of at least two opposition members, including Elvino Dias, the lawyer for opposition presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane.
The Mozambican elections have been widely criticised for alleged irregularities, with the European Union expressing serious concerns over the process. Despite this, Mnangagwa, in his capacity as SADC Chair, has remained silent on the violence and accusations of electoral fraud.
In contrast, African Union Chairperson Mousa Faki Mahamat has condemned the violence and called for a comprehensive investigation.
“The Chairperson calls on the Mozambican security authorities to undertake the necessary investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Mahamat stated.
With the international community closely monitoring the situation, Mnangagwa’s early congratulations add a new layer of complexity to the already tense atmosphere surrounding Mozambique’s elections.
