Maputo – The post-election violence in Mozambique has escalated, claiming at least 20 lives as unrest continues to grip the nation.
Protests erupted following the disputed October 9 election results, which returned the ruling FRELIMO party to power, with Daniel Chapo securing 71% of the vote.
However, widespread opposition and allegations of electoral fraud have spurred a fierce backlash.
On Thursday, police deployed tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Maputo, protesting the validity of the election outcome.
This unrest has expanded to key locations, with the Ressano Garcia border post between Mozambique and South Africa becoming a flashpoint.
Earlier this week, 15 Mozambican officials stationed at the border were attacked by protesters and have since sought refuge across the border in South Africa, prompting a temporary closure of the border by South African authorities.
The border post has now partially re-opened, but tensions remain high as Mozambican resilience continues to fuel the resistance.
The turmoil highlights a growing regional trend, where former liberation movements-turned-governing parties struggle to balance democratic ideals with their entrenched power structures.
FRELIMO, much like Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF, South Africa’s ANC, and Namibia’s SWAPO, originated as champions of independence but now face criticism for failing to embody the democratic principles they once fought for.
Increasingly, these parties exhibit a “liberation ownership” mentality, treating governance as a right earned in struggle rather than a responsibility conferred by the electorate.
Mozambique’s Defense Minister Cristovao Chume has threatened a military crackdown on protests, framing them as efforts to destabilize “democratically established power.”
However, opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who finished second with 21% in the controversial poll, has called for continued protests.
His movement underscores the resilience of Mozambicans as they demand transparency and electoral integrity.
The wave of political change sweeping Southern Africa—marked by recent democratic gains in Botswana, evolving political dynamics in South Africa, and Zimbabwe’s contentious 2023 election—adds regional pressure on SADC to respond to Mozambique’s crisis.
SADC’s credibility is further strained under its current chair, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose government faces ongoing scrutiny for alleged interference in regional electoral processes, including Botswana and Mozambique.
This rising tide of citizen-led demand for accountability challenges the entrenched legacies of Southern Africa’s liberation parties.
From economic inequality in South Africa under the ANC to Zimbabwe’s political repression, the disconnect between liberation-era governments and their citizens has fostered public disillusionment and calls for reform.
For Mozambique, the resilience of its people underscores their demand for genuine democracy and serves as a poignant reminder of the unfulfilled promises lingering across the region.