Mozambique's Bloody Election: The Revolutions That Keep on Repressing

Image: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

Dictators, for the purposes of stability and term longevity, tend to befriend other dictators, conspiring against their own citizens, consolidating their hold on power. In the last blog I spoke about the hegemonic collaborative efforts among the revolutionary parties in the Southern African region in crushing civil society and thus inhibiting democratization in the region. What is happening in Mozambique right now is clear evidence. In the same blog I also mentioned how the election is alleged to have been rigged and marked by inconsistencies and malpractices that undermined democratic transparency and participation. Daniel Chapo of the revolutionary party, Front for the Liberation of Mozambique, FRELIMO, was declared the winner. FRELIMO has ruled Mozambique since its independence in 1975. 

Thousands of protestors have taken to the streets of the Capital City, Maputo and other cities of the country - the people have rejected the election results. The regime has responded and continues to, with violent crackdowns, tear gas, rubber bullets and the murder of at least 20 protesters. Local groups instead, allege that more than 50 lives have been lost. The ruling party is accused of rigging the election by deploying officials loyal to them into the polling stations, ballot stuffing and manipulating voter lists. (Imray 2024) 

The Catholic Bishops Conference in Mozambique called out the inconsistencies and the discrepancies in the counting of the votes and falsification/altering of the results, and in a like manner this was done by the European Union’s Observer Mission. The Constitutional Court of Mozambique has demanded that the Electoral Commission explain the results. The Church also decried the ruthlessness in the killing of two senior opposition officials by unidentified gunmen on the 18th of October. Elvino Dias was the lawyer and advisor to the Opposition leader, Mondlane who came second in the elections and has since gone on a self imposed exile for his safety. The second man, Paul Gaumbe was the spokesperson for the Opposition Party, Podemos. (“Mozambique Rocked by the Killings of 2 Prominent Opposition Figures Soon After Disputed Election | AP News” 2024) While in exile, Mondlane has encouraged the protestors to carry on their efforts to rise against the regime. 

Two days ago, in Boane, Maputo Province, enraged protesters removed the Statue of President Filipe Nyusi who, before this election, ruled for the maximum of two years allowed constitutionally, and now gives way to Daniel Chapo. The statue was decapitated and its parts carried in parades around the neighborhood.( @Cidiachissungo, X formerly, Twitter.)

South Africa has shut its main border with Mozambique following the growing unrest in the country due to the protests. Authorities have reportedly also warned South Africans to desist from making non-essential visits to Mozambique. 

Keep in mind that the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is also the Chairman of the Southern African Development Community, congratulated Daniel Chapo before the results were verified and announced. On the 8th of November, Southern African Leaders, including Opposition leaders were in Botswana for the swearing in of the newly elected President who defeated the former Ruling party of 58 continuous years. Emmerson Mnangagwa and former Botswana President Masisi were booed by the crowds when the directors of the ceremony acknowledged their presence. 

Now it remains unclear to me how the crisis will end, or rather, whether the Ruling Party will listen to Mozambicans or will continue to violently crack down on protesters and kill its own people. As I have always said, the promise of the Revolutionary Parties at the point of Liberation from European forces was valid, inspiring and necessary, but it now spells doom and misery for many. The likes of both FRELIMO and ZANU PF in their loving relationship derive their legitimacy to rule exclusively from their key role in Liberating their respective countries, not on the consent of the governed to be ruled, and the ability to deliver political and economic prosperity. As evidence, take how the merger between ZANU and ZAPU into ZANU PF was not about Unity and Peace as has been engraved in public memory, but rather the subsumption and invisibilization of ZAPU which was a competing rival and equally legitimate Liberation Struggle Party. Joshua Nkomo’s ZAPU was a threat to ZANU hegemony and monopoly on national history and legitimacy to rule. The creation of Jacon Zuma’s Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), and that very name, is causing the same crisis for the South African Ruling Party, the ANC. 

Toxic revolutionary parties not only consolidate their hegemony within a single territory but export their evil machinations to the immediate environment - this fosters union of purpose and agenda among the autocrats.The dictators pat each other’s backs and look to the other side in the face of injustice and human rights atrocities! They rig elections together and repress civil society together. 

Let me conclude by pointing out the problem of not having a regional antidote to the question of illegitimacy and electoral fraud. The same SADC whose observer Mission in 2023 pointed out the inconsistencies and malpractices, including voter intimidation and unavailability of voting materials, in the Zimbabwe General election, which was won by Mnangagwa, now has as Chairman the same Mnangagwa. What are the political implications of having an arguably illegitimate president as Head of the region? Exactly what is happening in Mozambique. It was reported by NewZimbabwe and the Masvingo Mirror and alleged by the Opposition in Mozambique that ZANU PF supporters (Zimbabwe’s Ruling Party) were issued Mozambican Identity Cards and voted in the Mozambican Election! It may not be credibly proved and as always, the dictators and their cronies will just refuse, but Daniel Chapo’s FRELIMO had a campaign in Zimbabwe’s Chegutu district to “drum up its support” and before the results had even been verified, Mnangagwa had congratulated FRELIMO for winning the election. 

References

Imray, Gerald. 2024. “Why Mozambique’s Election Has Sparked Weeks of Protests and a Violent Crackdown by Police | AP News.” AP News. November 7, 2024. https://apnews.com/article/mozambique-election-protests-violence-unrest-frelimo-e732c78af8f39f89862c85f408d40975.

“Mozambique Rocked by the Killings of 2 Prominent Opposition Figures Soon After Disputed Election | AP News.” 2024. AP News. October 19, 2024. https://apnews.com/article/mozambique-opposition-killed-shot-election-frelimo-cf07e1a8d232b1266a16c5136d4b06e2.