Pretoria – South Africa has called for calm in neighbouring Mozambique where protests over disputed election results have turned violent leaving at least 10 people dead and many more injured.
SA International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola this week spoke on the telephone with his Mozambican counterpart, Minister Verónica Macamo.
The two ministers on Wednesday, (6 November 2024), reflected on the situation in Mozambique, following the recent general elections.
Mozambique is experiencing outbreaks of protests in the aftermath of the disputed election results.
“South Africa expresses concern at the outbreak of incidents of post-electoral violence and regrets the loss of lives and destruction of property,” Minister Lamola said.
“We once again reiterate the call made by various leaders in Mozambique to the law enforcement agencies to speedily investigate these incidents and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“South Africa calls for calm and restraint, to allow the electoral process to conclude successfully, and give the Constitutional Court of Mozambique time and space to validate the election results in accordance with its mandate.
“Furthermore, South Africa welcomes the convening of the SADC Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit and the SADC Extraordinary Summit on 20 November 2024 in Zimbabwe, where SADC Heads of State will receive a report on the recent political developments in the region, including elections in Mozambique, Botswana, and Mauritius.”
These summits will be preceded by meetings of senior officials and Ministers, from 15 November 2024.
“Given the current security situation in Mozambique, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation encourages all South Africans to postpone non-essential visits to the country until further notice,” the ministry said.
Earlier this week South Africa closed its Lebombo border entry post to Mozambique owing to continued violence sparked by disputed election results which Frelimo is accused of rigging.
SA Border Management Authority’s Commissioner Dr. Michael Masiapato on Wednesday, (6 November 2024), said the temporary closure of the Lebombo border post was due to security threats from Mozambique, which was battling post-election violence.
There were reports of protests from the Ressano Garcia Border Post on the Mozambique side, all the way to the Capital, Maputo.
Protests erupted a fortnight ago after the Mozambican National Electoral Commission announced that Frelimo party candidate Daniel Chapo won the 9 October presidential poll.
Allegations of vote-rigging have dogged the ruling left-wing Frelimo, which has been in power for nearly 50 years.
Mozambique authorities said the violence was so widespread they considered sending the army onto the streets to restore order.
