NEXT week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa will preside over a crucial Southern African Development Community (Sadc) summit, convened to, among other things, address Mozambique’s disputed October elections.
The summit will bring regional leaders together in Harare amid rising political tensions and allegations of electoral interference. Mozambique’s elections, which saw the ruling Frelimo party extend its 49-year dominance, have sparked widespread unrest and serious allegations of human rights abuses.
Protests against the contested outcome have left over 20 dead, with hundreds more injured or detained. The opposition, led by candidate Venâncio Mondlane, has disputed the results, arguing that the 71% victory of Frelimo’s candidate Daniel Chapo was marred by fraud.
The situation remains fragile as the country braces for a major opposition march in Maputo on November 7. Mnangagwa’s role as summit chair raises questions about his impartiality.
Following Zimbabwe’s own contentious election in August, which Sadc observers criticised for failing to meet international democratic standards, Mnangagwa faces scrutiny over his ability to objectively lead discussions on election integrity in the region. His swift congratulations to Chapo, delivered even before Mozambique’s results were formally certified, has further fuelled scepticism about his neutrality.
Though Zimbabwe’s 2023 elections were relatively peaceful, the regional bloc noted that the polls failed to meet international best standards governing democratic polls.
Also under discussion is Botswana’s recent election, which saw a historic shift away from the 58-year rule of the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). Former president Ian Khama has accused Zimbabwe’s ruling party of meddling in Botswana’s election.
“We just learned today that members of Zanu PF voted in the just-ended Mozambique general elections. Remember Mnangagwa went on national television and promised to help Masisi win elections,” Khama was quoted saying a fortnight ago.
Zanu PF bigwigs attended a BDP rally in support of Masisi. Botswana’s main opposition parties recently staged a protest outside Zimbabwe’s embassy in Gaborone, condemning any interference in the country’s democratic process.
Historically, Zanu PF has accused foreign governments, particularly the United Kingdom and the United States, of meddling in Zimbabwe’s elections to destabilise the ruling party. Yet Mnangagwa’s administration now faces allegations of interfering in its neighbours' political processes, a claim that could undermine Zimbabwe’s credibility as a mediator within Sadc.
The upcoming Sadc summit also aims to address electoral reforms and governance issues across the region, with a spotlight on Namibia’s forthcoming elections. However, the bloc’s lack of action on recent electoral controversies raises doubts about its effectiveness.