SOUTH AFRICA – The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is facing a severe crisis of legitimacy, as critics accuse two of its key member states, Zimbabwe’s Zanu-PF and Mozambique’s Frelimo, of perpetuating regional instability through their ‘undemocratic’ actions.
At the heart of the crisis is the disputed presidential election in Mozambique, which saw Daniel Chapo declared the winner with 65% of the vote.
However, the opposition has rejected the results, citing widespread fraud and irregularities. The situation has been marked by violence, with over 200 people killed in protests.
SADC chairman and President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa sent defence minister Oppah Muchinguri to represent him at the inauguration of Chapo on on Wednesday. Angola and Zambia have also sent representatives to the event.
South Africa (SA)’s ruling African National Congress party leader Cyril Ramaphosa attended the event.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Maputo today to attend the inauguration of the President-Elect of Moçambique, His Excellency Daniel Chapo, following the Presidential, Legislative and Provincial Elections which were held on 9 October 2024,” an official presidential X handle confirmed the development.
Popular SA opposition leader Mmusi Maimane has been vocal in his criticism, stating that these two parties have “destroyed the SADC region” through their actions.
He accused Ramaphosa of “endorsing illegitimate election outcomes through attending the inaugurations of these leaders.”
“Frelimo and Zanu PF have destroyed the SADC region, but the ANC keeps enabling them by endorsing illegitimate election outcomes through attending the inaugurations of these leaders.
“South Africa pays the price as immigration escalates due to the humanitarian and economic crisis in Mozambique and Zimbabwe,” he posted on his X handle.
SADC’s response to the crisis has been criticised for being inadequate. Mnangagwa, the organisation’s chairman, has been accused of bias towards Frelimo, with some arguing that he has failed to take a neutral stance in the dispute.
Instead of seeking to mediate the crisis, Mnangagwa has been seen as endorsing Chapo’s victory, which has further inflamed tensions.
He is one of the first leaders in the region to congratulate Chapo’s controversial win.
The situation in Mozambique is not an isolated incident. Zimbabwe, under Zanu-PF’s leadership, has also been accused of undermining democracy and human rights in the region. The country’s successive presidential elections have been widely condemned as rigged since the year 2000.
In August 2023, Mnangagwa was declared winner in a disputed presidential election, which saw his rival Nelson Chamisa refusing to accept the results.
International observers, including the SADC body itself, asserted that the plebiscite had failed to meet the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and regional standards.
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