SA delegation in bilateral meeting with Mozambican counterparts amid looming election results
This comes as the Mozambican Constitutional Council looks set to verify and officially proclaim the outcome of the country’s October presidential election results on Monday, following a validation process.
Members of the Islamic community of Mozambique march during a protest against the results of the 2024 presidential elections in Maputo on 2 November 2024. Picture: ALFREDO ZUNIGA / AFP
JOHANNESBURG - A South African delegation comprising several ministers has been in a bilateral meeting with their Mozambican counterparts in Mpumalanga since Wednesday morning.
This comes as the Mozambican Constitutional Council looks set to verify and officially proclaim the outcome of the country’s October presidential election results on Monday, following a validation process.
Civil unrest swept across parts of Mozambique following the 9 October elections as allegations of vote-rigging surfaced.
The bulk of the morning’s engagement between South African and Mozambican officials was likely concentrated on next week’s announcement of the election results.
Operations at the Lebombo border post have stabilised, but that could change in the coming days.
Since October, the country had been brought to a standstill as the economic hub and the country's capital Maputo was shut down.
Cargo trucks carrying valuable minerals had to halt operations, resulting in a 20% decline in trade compared to 2024.
Mozambicans are calling for transparency after the Frelimo party, which has governed the country since its independence in 1975, retained power with a 71% majority vote.
Citizens and opposition parties forced the country to conduct a recount of the election results, the outcome of which will be proclaimed on Monday.