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TSadc Condemns Post-Election Violence In Mozambiquehe Southern African Development Community (Sadc) has strongly condemned the post-election violence in Mozambique following the October 9 elections, which were won by the ruling party, Frelimo.
Sadc’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Elias Magosi, expressed the regional bloc’s concerns yesterday during the Sadc Extraordinary Summit held at the New Parliament Building in Mount Hampden, Zimbabwe.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Magosi urged political parties to avoid violence and resolve election-related disputes through established legal channels.
“We did not expect election processes to deteriorate to the extent of serious conflict, disruption of economic activity, threats to human lives, loss of lives, and damage to property and infrastructure,” Mr. Magosi said.
He called on aggrieved parties to use lawful procedures to ensure the safety of citizens and the stability of the country. Mozambique has been rocked by violent protests led by opposition parties following the disputed election results. Over 30 people have died, and the violence has disrupted daily life across the country.
President Filipe Nyusi, in a national address on Tuesday, invited all presidential candidates to a meeting to find solutions to the ongoing political crisis. He condemned the violence, stating that it has “created chaos and fear across the country.” Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda labeled the protests as “acts of terrorism” and urged citizens to cooperate with authorities to restore order.
He accused opposition groups of using “drugged” youths to destabilize the country, warning that such plans would be thwarted. Frelimo candidate Cde Daniel Chapo secured over 70 percent of the vote in the elections, with his closest rival, Mr. Venancio Mondlane, garnering 20 percent. The Sadc summit also reviewed security concerns in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), emphasizing the need for lasting peace.
Mr. Magosi highlighted the importance of political and diplomatic interventions, such as the Luanda process led by Angolan President João Lourenço, to resolve conflicts in the region. “We should focus more effort and the limited resources at our disposal on dialogue between the parties,” Mr. Magosi said. He proposed robust discussions with conflict-affected member states and other external stakeholders contributing to regional instability.
Mr. Magosi stressed that peace and stability cannot be achieved through military interventions alone. He advocated for dialogue as a critical component of the peace process, saying, “Peace should be the denominator for all our engagements. I believe we can find lasting peace in our region.”
Sadc leaders pledged to work collectively to address the crises in Mozambique and the DRC.
