ALERT: Tension grips Mozambique as further protests against election results declaring the ruling party the winner loom nationwide throughout October…

By Jude Atemanke

ACI Africa: Members of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique have called on the people of God in the Southern African country to maintain peace as violence rocks the country following contested elections.

On October 17, Opposition parties in Mozambique held protests in the capital, Maputo, to denounce fraud in the October 11 municipal elections, with police using tear gas, Africa News reported. The ruling party has been declared the winner in most towns where counting has concluded. But that has been contested by the main opposition party, Renamo, which is claiming victory in Maputo in particular.

“We once again call on all Mozambicans to take part in a general demonstration to repudiate electoral fraud,” Renamo’s president Ossufo Momade told a crowd in Maputo. “This is the beginning of the revolution in Mozambique.” Meanwhile, the court in the Maputo city municipal district of KaMubukwana on Wednesday rejected an appeal by Mozambique’s main opposition party, Renamo, against the results declared in the district from the municipal elections held a week ago.

Renamo argued that the 253 polling station minutes and results sheets used by the KaMubukwane District Elections Commission in its “intermediate count” of the results were forged, and therefore asked the court to annul the intermediate count.

The court accepted that, during the count, the District Commission did not take the Renamo protests into consideration. But it added that Renamo had not proved that the results sheets used by the Commission were forgeries.

Crisis24 has warned that further protests were likely nationwide through October. As of mid-October, courts have issued orders to recount votes in Matola (Maputo Province). Courts have also requested new elections in Chokwe (Gaza Province) and in Kamavota and Kampfumo (both Maputo Province).

Frelimo claims to have won 64 of 65 municipalities; only Beira was won by the opposition Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM). In protest, Renamo called for nationwide protests on Tuesday, boycotted the national parliament sitting, and announced it would legally challenge the results.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Catholic Bishops expressed concern about the country’s rising instability following the post-election chaos.

“The electoral illicit acts and irregularities, some more serious than others, those reported unofficially and disseminated by the social media, and others reported occasionally by the electoral observers, have generated a high degree of mistrust in Mozambican society that is giving rise to a situation of instability and continued social tension throughout the country,” they said.

They added, “It is against this backdrop that we have received reports of destruction of campaign materials, violent clashes, people being unjustly arrested, questionable actions by those who should be guaranteeing order and people’s safety, a variety of irregularities in voting, counting and the fairness of the results. Looking at this scenario, we see with great concern that, as the results are released, the levels of incomprehension are rising, as are the expressions of discontent among the people, especially those who feel cheated.”

They appealed to Mozambicans to maintain peace which they described as a “supreme value of our coexistence and citizenship.” They further called for dialogue between the government, the electoral management bodies, the political parties, civil society, the Constitutional Council, the Council of State “and all other protagonists, with clarity in their positions.”

The Bishops called for the “restoration of legality, knowing that there is no legality without truth, making sure that the force of the law is the one that curbs and helps to overcome any possible manipulation of results or electoral fraud.”

“The pursuit of justice, which is the greatest path to peace and the healthy and fraternal coexistence of all Mozambicans,” the Catholic Church leaders said. They also called for “reason and ethics so that any possibility of bloodshed between brothers is avoided by all means.”

CEM members also appealed for “prayer for one another, which unites us as creatures of the same God in the different religions that exist in the country.” They appealed to electoral bodies in the country to “responsibly and fairly review the entire process of tabulating the results that are being released, ensuring that they are a true reflection of the votes cast in the polls and, therefore, of the will of the people.”

Alleging that some leaders of political parties were out to benefit from the Mozambican crisis, the Catholic Bishops appealed to the leaders to call on their members and supporters “to come to their senses” and “to place the political, social and economic viability of the country above the partisan interests of a mere questionable electoral victory.”

They call on the security forces to “assume their role of protecting citizens, regardless of their party affiliation, and to ensure that law and order are maintained, without extremism, intimidating or favoring anyone.”

Some 48 million Mozambicans were registered to vote for their local leaders in 65 municipalities in the southern African country. In their October 18 statement, Catholic Bishops in Mozambique say, “It is in times of trial that the greatness of a people and its leaders is known. Let no one lack the courage to bring justice that will lead Mozambicans to harmony and healthy coexistence as a nation.

“As the national anthem tells us, let’s all, in diversity, stone by stone, build a new day, an ever better future for Mozambique,” they add.

Crisis24 said protests in Maputo would likely concentrate along Avenida 24 de Julho and near the Statue of Samora Machel. “Elsewhere gatherings are likely in areas where the opposition maintains good support such as Biera, Nampula, and Quelimane. In these areas, gatherings may occur near government buildings, political party offices, and along major routes,” said a report of the monitoring body.

“Authorities will likely maintain an increased level of security nationwide. Measures may include the deployment of checkpoints, increased patrolling near urban centers, border restrictions, and implementation of curfews. Protests and clashes between Frelimo, Renamo, and MDM supporters, as well as with security forces, are likely. Disruptions to urban and intercity road travel, business operations, and telecommunications are likely amid significant bouts of civil unrest or pre-emptive security operations,” Crisis24 warned. – Additional reporting by Africa News, Club of Mozambique and Human Rights Watch

Comment

TIME FOR COOL HEADS

Sophisticated weapons of mass destruction are being used  by both Israel and  Palestine  in the continuation of the conflict that have spanned hundreds of years  while the world’s leading and powerful actors are busy pointing fingers while thousands of innocent people including men, women and children are subjected to untold pain, suffering and death.

Taking sides and threatening those who supported either of the two countries at a time when the whole world should be doing their utmost to call for a peaceful  resolution in the Middle East, is abominable.

By supporting either of the two countries, the world is actually encouraging the escalation of  the Arab-Israeli dispute which  has so far resulted in nearly 100 000 casualties since the early 1940s. The fact that so many lives had been lost is indicative of the fact that the world had turned a blind eye from this  volatile situation with efforts to stop this trend disastrously lagging.

The Arab-Israeli conflict has been a powder keg ready to explode any time. It involves man-made problems which seek amicable solutions by leaders from  both countries but with other world leaders acting as genuine mediators in an effort to find everlasting peace in the Middle – East.

The delay or ignorance by the world leaders in pursuing a peaceful resolution has now resulted in a calamity with neither side prepared to sit around the negotiation table.

World leaders cannot afford to play the blame game while these countries are at war killing innocent men, women and children, destroying important infrastructure, displacing thousands of  communities and literally bringing a halt to people’s lives and denying children their right to education.

This is a violation of God-given human rights. No government or person has a right to terminate the life of another human being in their efforts to resolve their political impasse.

Enough blood has been shed in this ongoing conflict. The world has been on the fence for too long a time and have thus encouraged the roots of  hatred and war to sprout between the two countries.

What is needed now is relentless efforts to mediate for a peaceful solution between Israel and Palestine. Talks of  arms support for either of the two countries must be thrown out the window as this would be fueling the already volatile situation.

Pictures of buildings pummeled by heavy artillery, women running along the streets carrying their children to safety should speak to the conscience of all world leaders.

The deaths of  innocent human beings, hundreds who have been maimed and scores of  children who have been turned into orphans, should surely remain entrenched in the minds of leaders who care for human dignity and respect.

Time still allows world leaders to rethink their stance and seriously endeavour to help resolve this  crisis.

War is an evil that should never be allowed to rear its ugly head anywhere in the world.