THE Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has implored President Emmerson Mnangagwa to use his influence as the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) chairperson to advocate dialogue in Mozambique to stop the unrest over that country’s disputed October elections.
That country’s Constitutional Court on Monday upheld the results which extended long-ruling party Frelimo’s stay in power, sparking deadly riots.
The opposition has rejected the results.
At least 21 people were confirmed dead during two days of violence over election results on Monday and Tuesday, including attacks on petrol stations, police stations and banks.
The fatalities brought the death toll in the country to 151 since October 21, according to Plataforma Decide, an election monitoring group.
In a statement, ZCC appealed to Sadc to intervene in a bid to bring an end to the political impasse.
“We call upon the government of Zimbabwe as the chair of Sadc to use its influence in encouraging the government of Mozambique and all the political parties in Mozambique to come together and put the interests of the southern African region ahead,” ZCC said.
On Wednesday, Mnangagwa issued a statement as Sadc chairperson urging the international community to respect Mozambique’s sovereignty and the legitimacy of its electoral process.
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He also said Sadc expected all parties to respect the ruling of the Constitutional Council on election results to ensure peace and stability.
Some critics alleged that the statement lacked empathy for those affected by the violence and failed to propose concrete steps to address the unrest.
“Mnangagwa's statement is following a literalist reading of law and legal procedure,” London's School of Oriental and African Studies’ Stephen Chan said.
“It ignores violence, almost as if washing hands of a crisis in democratic expectations. By contrast, the South African offer of facilitation of dialogue is far more statesmanlike and caring of the affected people of Mozambique.”
South Africa’s International Relations and Co-operation minister Ronald Lamola said there was a need for an urgent dialogue in Mozambique.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition regional director Blessing Vava said Sadc had failed to address election-related controversies in southern Africa.
“It (Sadc) should call all the parties that have been involved and listen to the complaints, and the impartiality of the Judiciary,” Vava said.
“Mnangagwa’s statement also failed to give a way forward in terms of addressing the violence.”
However political analyst, Methuseli Moyo, said Mnangagwa’s statement was appropriate and struck the right codes.
“As Sadc chair, he has to steer clear of the controversies, until they are officially communicated to his office by the government or the other party in Mozambique,” Moyo said.
“He did encourage parties to accept results and maintain peace. That was enough to say at that stage. The next level must be behind the scenes government-to-government and Sadc initiatives to resolve the matter.”
Presidential spokesperson George Charamba was not reachable for comment.
Zanu PF director of information and publicity Farai Marapira said the ruling party and the government respected democratic processes of any country.
“So, if anyone is indeed a true democrat and not a subjective democrat who only believes that democracy is only a win, we expect all people to be respecting the result which has come out of Mozambique and for the people to accept that, it is the will of the people,” Marapira said.
