Mozambique is reeling from one crisis to another.
A few weeks and days ago, the southern African nation was exposed to the devastating effects of Cyclone Chido.
According to one report by Unicef, at least 90, 000 children were impacted by the same cyclone.
As for the death toll, AFP reported that the death toll had risen to 94 based on the latest data from Mozambique’s disaster management agency.
Far away from the natural disaster, while others in different nations are preparing for the festival season, Mozambique is on its knees due to a political standoff brought about by the recent elections.
Mozambique’s Constitutional court on Monday upheld the disputed victory of ruling party Frelimo for the shambolic October 2024 election.
The court ruling has sparked further massive protests by opposition groups who say the vote was rigged.
According to the civil society monitoring group Plataforma Decide, at least 130 people have been killed in clashes with police since the protests started sometime in October.
The controversial ruling saw Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo being confirmed as the president elect ahead of rival Venancio Mondlane in the race to succeed outgoing Mozambican president Filipe Nyusi.
To quote from a Reuters report, “In its final tally, the Constitutional Council said Chapo had secured about 65% of the vote, lower than the figure of more than 70% given by the electoral commission in late October. It also gave Frelimo fewer seats in the parliament than the commission did, without explaining why it had made those changes.”
On the other hand, Venancio Mondlane was allocated 24% of the vote by the court.
Mondlane remains adamant that he won the elections which European observers have declared not free and fair while SADC has endorsed the elections with current chair Zimbabwe’s president Emmerson Mnangagwa congratulating Chapo even before the final announcement of results by the electoral commission.
Back to the protests in Mozambique, disgruntled citizens have resorted to burning of tyres and looting with even the police joining in the looting.
Well, it’s just a crisis and we hope for quick solutions especially from South Africa and SADC.
But as one wise man once said “SADC, AU there is no such a thing, it’s a gentlemen club.”
