SADC calls for extraordinary summit to address Mozambique's post-election crisis

NATHANIEL GONDO

HARARE – The Southern African Development Committee (SADC) has called for an emergency summit meeting in Harare from November 16 to 20 to address the ongoing post-election issues in Mozambique and the region at large.

SADC calls for extraordinary summit as post election violence continues

Information Minister Jenfan Muswere

This meeting comes after there has been post-election violence in Mozambique following the disputed presidential elections of October 9 which saw Daniel Chapo, the ruling party FRELIMO's candidate, declared the winner.

The announcement for the extraordinary summit came from Zimbabwe's Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Jenfan Muswere during a post-cabinet briefing in Harare on Tuesday.

“The nation is informed that an Extraordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government is scheduled to be held in Harare from 16th to 20th November 2024, primarily to address emerging issues of regional significance,” he said.

The summit will also discuss the recent general elections in Botswana and the upcoming elections in Namibia which are set for November 27.

“The summit is expected to be briefed on political events in the region, including the recent elections in Mozambique and Botswana and upcoming polls in Namibia,” said Meswere.

This is will be the first extraordinary summit of SADC Heads of State and Government to held since the Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa was elected as the SADC bloc chairman.

The ruling party of Mozambique, FRELIMO, which is now being led by Daniel Chapo was ruled as the winning party in their recent elections. However violence has erupted in the country as the oppositions disputed the election results which saw lawyer Elvino Dias, who represented presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane shot dead in the capital, Maputo, along with an opposition politician, Paulo Guambe. Mondlane the opposition leader has since fled to South Africa claiming he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.

So far 16 people have been killed in the post-election violence and at least 108 people had been shot and wounded. The situation has put pressure on hospitals and this SADC summit will aim to address these issues and find solutions to the problems in Mozambique as protest continue in various parts of the country and tensions across remains high.