Johannesburg — Senior South Africa government and security officials held talks with their Mozambique counterparts on Wednesday amid fears of an escalation of a violent dispute over results of October elections in the neighbouring country.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola led the South African delegation at the meeting in the town of Malelane, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the border.
On Monday, Mozambique’s Constitutional Council is due to announce if it ratifies the results of the October 9 vote, which are rejected by the opposition.
Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane has called on his supporters to bring the country to “chaos” if the council confirms the election commission’s announcement that he won 20 percent, compared to 71 percent for the ruling Frelimo party candidate.
Minister Ronald Lamola and SA Ministers meet Mozambique’s Minister of Interior, Mr Pascoal Ronda, and his delegation at Paradise Creek Lodge, Mpumalanga, to discuss shared challenges and strengthen collaboration.#SAMozambiqueRelations 🇿🇦🇲🇿 #BilateralRelations pic.twitter.com/Fw8HspuAw1
— DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) December 18, 2024
The South African team wants to understand “what our counterparts see as the best way to resolve” the dispute and “in a manner that then doesn’t affect our side as well,” foreign ministry spokesman Chrispin Phiri told the Newzroom Afrika channel on Tuesday.
The South African delegation comprises officials from key sectors, including the police, defence and trade.
Leading the Mozambique team is Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda.
Waves of demonstrations called by Mondlane have brought city centres to a standstill, disrupted power plants, blocked mines and have also intermittently disrupted traffic at the main border between South Africa and Mozambique, holding up South African exports.
Around 130 people have been killed, according to the local civil society group Plataforma Decide, whose figures have been cited by Amnesty International.
DIRCO spokesperson Chrispin Phiri says South Africa’s engagement with Mozambique, which is led by International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, is to find a plan on the logistical challenges being experienced as a result of post-election violence in the neighbouring country.… pic.twitter.com/slh5jhb302
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) December 18, 2024
Mondlane has urged his supporters to “paralyse” the southern African country should the Constitutional Council validate the election commission’s results.
“If we get the electoral truth, we will go towards peace,” Mondlane said in a live online broadcast on Monday.
“If it is an electoral lie, we will bring the country down to a precipice, chaos and disorder.”
Mondlane claims a separate count of the results found he won 53 percent of the vote, with Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo having 36 percent.
International observers have said the October election was marred by several irregularities.
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Source: AFP
Picture: X/@DIRCO_ZA
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