MEDIA STATEMENT
Johannesburg, South Africa, Tuesday, 24 December 2024 – Public Interest SA expresses deep concern over the escalating violence and disruptive protests that have followed the proclamation of the final electoral results by the Constitutional Council of Mozambique. We urge all parties to prioritise the well-being of Mozambique’s citizens by committing to a peaceful and inclusive dialogue to resolve the impasse and foster national healing.
The ongoing unrest threatens to destabilise the region further, placing additional socioeconomic and political strain on neighbouring countries, particularly South Africa. Public Interest SA warns that failure to address the situation urgently will have dire consequences for Mozambique and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at large.
We are profoundly disappointed by the SADC leaders’ repeated inability to ensure fair, transparent, and widely accepted election outcomes in the region. As evidenced by the contentious elections in Zimbabwe and now Mozambique, this pattern of governance failure undermines regional stability and the principles of democracy.
Public Interest SA calls on Mozambique’s political leaders to:
Engage in Constructive Dialogue: Immediately initiate an inclusive process to address grievances and resolve disputes over the election results.
Prioritise National Unity: Focus on rebuilding trust among citizens and creating a roadmap for long-term political and socioeconomic stability.
We also urge the South African government to exercise its leadership role within the SADC region by intensifying mediating and supporting efforts to resolve the crisis. As the economic powerhouse of the region, South Africa has a vested interest in ensuring peace and stability in Mozambique to mitigate the potential spillover effects of the unrest.
Public Interest SA reaffirms its commitment to championing democracy, electoral integrity, ethical governance, and human rights and remain unwavering in our support of efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the current crisis.
ENDS
For further inquiries, please contact:
Bagaetsho Oteng
Media and Communications
0100055884
Issued by Public Interest SA Communication Team