Recently, Venancio Mondlane has voiced concerns about the legitimacy of the 2024 election process, saying it was manipulated. He has urged his followers to voice their frustrations publicly, across the 35 million-strong population of the Southern African country, Mozambique.
Mondlane, the opposition leader in Mozambique, made his return home after leaving the country post an intensely disputed electoral process in October. This election generated widespread protests, resulting in the unfortunate loss of several demonstrating individuals.
Mondlane has drawn attention to the alleged rigging of the October 9 polls. He is actively encouraging his supporters to step out and express their grievances across the breadth of Mozambique, a nation in Southern Africa with a population of 35 million.
In the wake of Mondlane’s return, a heavy density of riot police made their presence felt around the grounds of Maputo’s international airport, where thousands thronged to receive Mondlane. However, the security forces didn’t fare well amongst the crowd, with reports of inappropriate and harsh crowd control measures.
The streets around the air base in the capital were tense, with an unhealthy atmosphere caused by unnecessary force from the riot police, including tear gas and the ominous presence of snipers on surrounding buildings. However, these occurrences didn’t curb the aspirations of people, with sporadic protests continuing to burst out across the nation.
The ongoing protests post the election have resulted in numerous casualties. As per the civil society monitor Plataforma Decide, over 278 lives have been lost due to the post-election demonstrations, following the revelation of the results in mid-October.
This prolonged state of power by Frelimo party has raised eyebrows, as the party has managed to maintain its reign since Mozambique’s liberation from Portuguese colonial rule in 1975. This even includes a stretch during a brutal 15-year civil war, causing the loss of a million lives before a truce was finally declared in 1992.
The domestic instability has naturally had a ripple effect on businesses as well, causing disruption in commercial activities. The unrest has also resulted in issues with border accessibility with neighbouring South Africa, causing not just financial but also territorial concern.
Amid this crisis, people have begun abandoning their homeland for more peaceful neighbouring nations such as Malawi and Eswatini, as survival in violence-ridden areas becomes a challenge. These tragic mass migrations reflect the gravity of the situation in Mozambique.
Adding to the escalating tensions, Mozambique’s superior court corroborated Frelimo’s triumph in the elections in December, despite numerous reports from various overseers challenging the fairness and freedom of the polls. This has added more fuel to the robust protest flame, starting afresh the exhibition of public dissatisfaction.
The judicial endorsement of the election outcome, despite diverse vigilante reports indicating a lack of fairness, spurred another wave of protests across the nation. The people’s faith in the justice system was questioned, their voices growing louder against the perceived electoral injustice.
The imminent inauguration of the newly elected President Daniel Chapo, a member of the ruling Frelimo party, is expected to become another trigger in the ongoing political crisis in Mozambique. Yet, even as his presidential swearing-in rapidly approaches, questions remain about the electoral process.
Both the President-elect Daniel Chapo and the ruling party Frelimo are on the defensive, refuting accusations of electoral malpractice. Yet, the huge number of dissenting voices across the country and the international observers cannot be easily dismissed, raising further doubts about the integrity of the election.
Despite the brewing tension and the pressure of evidence suggesting fraudulent electoral practices, Chapo and Frelimo continue to deny any misdoing. Their adamant denial in the face of mounting evidence continues to sow discord and exacerbates the ongoing unrest in Mozambique.
The accusations and widespread protests highlight a systemic issue in the Mozambique political landscape, chiefly the lack of transparency and fairness in the electoral process. As Mozambique grapples with this untenable situation, the world watches on, hoping for a resolution that will restore stability and peace.
While the political turmoil in Mozambique continues to evolve, the citizens yearn for transparency in their governance, fairness in the electoral process, and a halt to the damaging unrest. If the situation is not addressed adequately and promptly, the nation runs the risk of intense destabilization and potential isolation from the international community. Yet, with the world witnessing their struggle, the hope for a change in Mozambique remains alive.