Mozambicans Have More Rights in Zimbabwe than Zimbabweans
Posted by ZDN on October 28, 2009
Zimbabweans envy the people of Mozambique resident in Zimbabwe, and elsewhere outside Mozambique. They will participate in the Mozambican national elections today, because their constitution allows them to vote as expatriates.
But under Zimbabwean electoral law, Zimbabweans are denied the same rights. No non-resident citizen is allowed to vote in national elections – except for embassy staff.
Dozens of political parties are contesting the Mozambican parliamentary elections, and are allowed to do so freely on Zimbabwean soil. The border town of Mutare has in the past few weeks, seen open campaigning, dominated by the main contenders – the ruling FRELIMO, RENAMO and the new Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM). President Guebuza rounded off his election campaign on Monday in Chimoio, the Manica provincial capital, just 20km from the Zimbabwean border town of Mutare.
But while Mozambicans hold political rallies in Zimbabwe, under the much-maligned POSA (Public Order and Security Act), Zimbabweans are not allowed to gather in groups or hold any political meetings without the written advance permission of the Zanu-PF controlled police. The head of the Zimbabwe Republic Police is Zanu-PF stalwart Augustine Chihuri. The POSA is routinely used to ban political rallies and meetings of the MDC or any NGOs that might pose a threat to ZanuPF supremacy.
The Mozambican Embassy in Harare has set up well-manned polling stations for their citizens. In the Mozambican Presidential vote, current President Armando Guebuza of FRELIMO is hoping to win a landslide against rival Afonso Dlhakama of RENAMO, and newcomer Daviz Simago of the recently formed MDM.
Zimbabweans however lose their voting rights after only two years of non-residence.
By contrast, Mozambicans born in and living in Zimbabwe are encouraged to register as voters – even those who have no citizenship papers. In June 2009, on the occasion of that country’s 34th Independence anniversary, a special call went out for all Mozambican nationals in Zimbabwe to apply for their identity documents and be added to the voters’ roll.
The Mozambique elections are widely reported as being free and fair, again in sharp contrast to Zimbabwean elections, which for decades have been rigged in favour of Zanu-PF.
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