Mnangagwa in premature celebration of FRELIMO victory as bloody protests engulf Mozambique in aftermath of disputed elections 

By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWEAN President Emmerson Mnangagwa has prematurely extended a congratulatory message to Mozambique’s ruling party, FRELIMO, in the wake of disputed outcomes of recent elections.

Mozambique is witnessing escalating political tensions between ruling party activists and supporters of independent presidential candidate, Venancio Mondlane, who accuses FRELIMO of rigging polls and killing his lawyer, Elvino Dias, over the weekend.

The country’s electoral body has so far announced results pointing to victory by FRELIMO’s presidential candidate, Daniel Francisco Chapo (47) sparking widespread protests.

Speaking during Tuesday’s Politburo meeting that was a precursor to the Zanu PF National People’s Conference slated for Bulawayo this week, Mnangagwa, the current Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairman, congratulated Frelimo and its candidate, Chapo.

“I wish to congratulate our sister revolutionary party, Frelimo and its president-elect, His Excellency, Cde Daniel Chapo, and the people of Mozambique on the resounding victory during the recently held elections. Congratulations Frelimo,” Mnangagwa told Zanu PF Politburo members at the party’s headquarters in Harare.

“Zanu PF stands ready to cement the long-existing revolutionary unity between our two parties and our two nations.”

Although SADC is yet to formally declare its position regarding the Mozambican polls and security situation, Mnangagwa’s felicitation towards Frelimo has put the regional bloc in an invidious angle.

This Tuesday viral videos were posted on social media depicting opposition leader, Mondlane (50) being whisked away by a journalist as police fired teargas towards his street press conference in Maputo held with both local and foreign journalists.

Maputo is the epicentre of protests in Mozambique in the aftermath of the disputed October 9 elections, in which Zanu PF elements are accused of interfering by casting votes.

Media reports suggest that European Union (EU) observers say there are ‘unjustified alterations’ of election results, which Mondlane claims were manipulated in favour of his rival Chapo.

The developments on Tuesday came a day after Mozambicans gathered to register their disapproval of alleged fraud in the harmonised polls.

“The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) … has noted irregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results at polling station and district level,” said the EU observers.

Election authorities in the Southern African country were urged to count ballots “in a transparent and credible manner, ensuring the traceability of polling station results.”

Commenting on the alleged killing of his lawyer, Mondlane said the country’s soldiers were responsible.

“This was a crime committed by the defence and security forces. There’s no doubt about it. The special forces killed Elvino (Dias),” said Mondlane, who accused security forces of firing at Dias 25 times.

“There is a price on my head,” Mondlane also added.

Dias, who was preparing to submit a case to the Constitutional Court contesting early election results showing the ruling Frelimo party ahead in the polls, was killed in the early hours of Saturday.

He was in a vehicle in Maputo with Paulo Guambe, from the PODEMOS party which backs Mondlane, when they were surrounded by vehicles and both were shot dead, media reports say.

Pointedly, in its statement on Tuesday, the EU observers urged “utmost restraint by all”, a clarion call that Mnangagwa has flagrantly disregarded by congratulating Chapo, anointed by outgoing president Filipe Nyusi (65), who is relinquishing power after two terms.

“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,” the EU EOM said.

On Monday, the United States Department of State spokesperson, Matthew Miller condemned the murder of Dias and Guambe.

The US is the largest bilateral donor to Mozambique, providing more than $560m in assistance annually, according to the State Department.

The African Union and Mozambique’s former colonial ruler Portugal also condemned the killings.

Mondlane has urged his supporters to “paralyse the country” on Thursday and Friday to demonstrate against what he predicted would be “profoundly false” results. Official election results are expected in Mozambique this week.

On Monday, he called for a general strike and was among a group of protesters in the capital, Maputo, who were dispersed by police with tear gas.

Frelimo has been in power since Mozambique gained independence from Portugal 49 years ago.

Mozambique, which has battled civil war waged by opposition Renamo insurgents, has witnessed episodes of electoral violence, with the most recent being last year’s clashes that resulted in the deaths of several people after FRELIMO won local elections.