By James Gwati-South Africa has re-closed the Lebombo border with Mozambique as tensions escalate across the border following Mozambique’s disputed election results.
Fifteen Mozambican officials fled to South Africa early Thursday, seeking protection after facing attacks from local protesters who had gathered at the Ressano Garcia border.
“Unfortunately, we have to close the Lebombo port of entry. They have damaged Kilometre Four, a truck processing facility in Mozambique,” explained Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Michael Masiapato.
The official noted that protesters were headed towards the border, adding to the volatile situation.
The unrest began shortly after Mozambique’s election results were announced on October 24, which re-elected the ruling Frelimo party with Daniel Chapo winning 71% of the vote according to the controversial official count.
Violent protests in Maputo and across the country have sparked clashes, leading Mozambican Defence Minister Cristovao Chume to threaten a military crackdown on protesters, condemning the unrest as an effort to undermine “democratically established power.”
Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who became second with 21% of the contested presidential poll, responded by organising further protests, declaring today “Mozambique’s day of freedom.”
The turmoil in Mozambique underscores a troubling pattern seen in many liberation movements-turned-governing parties across Southern Africa.
Similar to Mozambique’s Frelimo, nationalist parties such as Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF, South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC), Namibia’s SWAPO, Angola’s MPLA, Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi, and Botswana’s recently ousted Botswana Democratic Party have grown increasingly detached from the very citizens they once vowed to represent.
Originally hailed as heroes of independence, these parties have gradually adopted a “liberation ownership” mentality, viewing governance as an entitlement earned through liberation struggles rather than a mandate bestowed by the people.
This mentality fosters an entrenched culture of arrogance, often manifesting as political repression, suppression of dissent, and deep-rooted corruption.
In Zimbabwe, for example, ZANU-PF’s liberation-era legacy has led to decades of political and economic decay, with the party frequently using state machinery to silence opposition.
Similarly, the ANC in South Africa has faced growing criticism for failing to address issues of inequality, while allegations of corruption and factionalism within the party erode public trust.
Namibia’s SWAPO and Angola’s MPLA have also faced backlash for undermining democratic processes to consolidate their power, maintaining a grip on resources that has stifled development and fostered inequality.
The situation in Mozambique reflects this regional trend. Frelimo’s response to protests — with the threat of military force — reveals a disregard for democratic accountability and a willingness to suppress citizen expression.
Despite calls from opposition groups for transparency and fair elections, Frelimo has resisted pressures for reform, seeking instead to retain control at all costs.
This approach is a common denominator among liberation-era parties that increasingly view themselves as invulnerable to change, even as public discontent rises.
Today’s developments on the Mozambique-South Africa border serve as a reminder of the challenges facing Southern African nations as they grapple with post-liberation politics.
The region’s liberation movements have transformed into entrenched political dynasties, often at odds with the democratic ideals they once claimed to champion.
As citizens across Southern Africa push for greater accountability and transparency, the future of these former liberation movements hangs in the balance, with their legitimacy eroding under the weight of unfulfilled promises and mounting public frustration.