By Leonnel Mhuka
Zimbabwe’s ruling party, ZANU PF, is facing condemnation for interfering in the elections of neighboring countries, causing tensions across Southern Africa. As Namibia prepares for its presidential elections on November 27, reports reveal ZANU PF’s involvement in disrupting the electoral process especially by siding with the country’s ruling party. Similar incidents have been seen in Mozambique and Botswana, leading to calls for decisive action against Zimbabwe’s leadership, with others suggesting its removal from SADC.
In Mozambique, over whelming evidence exposed that ZANU PF supporters were issued Mozambican identity cards early this year and were allowed to vote in last month’s elections. These elections were won by the ruling FRELIMO party, prompting questions about the fairness of the process. Dr. Senator Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda, Executive Director of the Research Institute of Zimbabwe, condemned this behavior, saying, “Zimbabweans led by ZANU PF community leaders were seen and practically voting for Mozambique’s FRELIMO party.”The results were rejected by the country’s opposition parties leading to violent protests which have so far gone for almost a month.
Dr Mafa called this a serious violation of sovereignty, adding, “It is most humiliating and embarrassing that the so-called chairman of SADC is meddling in other people’ s sovereignty, particularly in the electoral processes.”
In Botswana, former President Ian Khama has said that if found guilty of interfering in other countries’ elections processes, Zimbabwe as a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) must face discplinary.
ZANU PF’s actions have drawn sharp criticism across Southern Africa, with many questioning Zimbabwe’s leadership role in SADC. Dr. Mafa expressed the growing frustration within the region.“Zimbabwe is cancerous. It’s being blamed in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and all member states of SADC feel it is undesirable for Mr. Mnangagwa to chair SADC for the aforesaid reasons,” he said.
The country has been, since 2018 recorded increasing number of human rights violations including the highest number of political prisioners who have spent long periods in pretrial detention. On this Mafa said, “The interference in neighboring states, interference and capturing of the judiciary, all this proves that Zimbabwe’s leadership has decayed so low that it needs hospitalization. It is now in the intensive care of civilization.”
Looking closely at Mozambique scenario, ZANU PF was seen publicly adressing FRELIMO mobilazation rallies. Now the election results have been contested, how then can the same ZANU PF as a ruling party in Zimbabwe chair a meeting to resolve the conflict in Mozambique? Zimbabwe’s Dr. Mafa believes SADC must act decisively, saying, “SADC should take standard measures and withdraw the chairmanship of Zimbabwe with immediate effect.”
ZANU PF’s actions have strained Zimbabwe’s relationships with its neighbors, making Zimbabweans feel unwelcome in many countries. “We sympathize with Mozambique, we sympathize with all neighbors of Zimbabwe, because even in Zambia, the relationship is sour,” said Dr. Mafa.
As Namibia approaches its elections, the region faces mounting pressure to ensure fairness and transparency. Dr. Mafa summed up the sentiment across Southern Africa saying “People are so agitated. We need this to be sorted out amicably.”
The focus now is on whether SADC will take action against Zimbabwe to restore trust in the region’s democratic processes.
