By Staff Reporter
Harare – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has prematurely extended a congratulatory message to Mozambique’s ruling party, FRELIMO, in the wake of disputed outcomes of recent elections which have escalated violence and tensions in the country.
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 neighboring country’s electoral body has so far announced results pointing to victory by FRELIMO’s presidential candidate, Daniel Francisco Chapo (47) sparking widespread protests.
Mnangagwa, who is also the current Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairman, extended his congratulations during a Politburo meeting, praising FRELIMO’s “resounding victory” and expressing Zanu PF’s readiness to strengthen ties between the two parties and nations.
“I wish to congratulate our sister revolutionary party, Frelimo and its president-elect, His Excellency, Comrade Daniel Chapo, and the people of Mozambique on the resounding victory during the recently held elections.
“Congratulations Frelimo.
“Zanu PF stands ready to cement the long-existing revolutionary unity between our two parties and our two nations,” Mnangagwa said.
Mnangagwa’s comments towards a process that has been marred by alleged vote fraud and violence would likely anger Mozambique’s new opposition party Podemos and its presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane who have vehemently rejecting the outcome and have called for protests.
Some critics have branded Mnangagwa’s actions as hypocritical, given Zimbabwe’s own history of electoral violence and disputes.
In the past, Zimbabwe has experienced state-sponsored violence, particularly during the 2008 elections, where ZANU-PF supporters and government agents were implicated in human rights abuses.
