Zimbabweans in South Africa Enlist Malema for Election Protest

In an unexpected alliance, a faction of Zimbabweans residing in South Africa has sought the support of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and its charismatic leader Julius Malema for planned protests on October 7. Their goal is to blockade the Beitbridge Border Post, aiming to trigger new elections in Zimbabwe overseen by the Southern African Development Community (SADC). This move comes after controversial polls held on August 23-24 declared Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa victorious.

The petition dated September 18 invites Malema and other South African citizens to join the demonstrations. Talent Rusere, one of the organizers, expressed concerns about how illegal Zimbabwean immigrants adversely affect South Africa’s economy. “They have a beautiful country, but Zanu PF is looting it. We are suffering under a military dictatorship that subjects us to torture and abuse,” said Rusere.

The petition details that the Zimbabwean economy benefits only the elite of the ruling Zanu PF party, as reported by NewsDay Zimbabwe. “We have become foreigners in our own land. Yet President Cyril Ramaphosa and the African National Congress support our oppressors,” the petition reads. 

Several advocacy groups have mobilized after election results that favored Mnangagwa. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission declared him the winner with 52.6% of the vote, while CCC leader Nelson Chamisa garnered 44%. The African Union and SADC noted that the elections were fraught with irregularities. 

Meanwhile, the political climate has worsened with allegations made by Patrick Chinamasa, Zanu PF’s secretary for finance. Zambians are demanding an inquiry into the death of their former President, Levy Mwanawasa, following Chinamasa’s comments about his death and threats against Zambia’s current President, Hakainde Hichilema. 

Chinamasa refuted these claims, but his statements have nonetheless raised alarms. Jack Kalala, a former State House chief policy analyst under Mwanawasa, urged an inquiry into Mwanawasa’s mysterious death in 2008. “African presidents should work together, not live in fear of each other,” Kalala stated. 

Relations between Zimbabwe and Zambia have deteriorated since the disputed elections, affecting regional politics. This adds another layer of complexity to a volatile situation that the upcoming protests will likely exacerbate.

With its international alliances and implications, the Beitbridge protest seems set to escalate existing tensions. It promises to be a critical moment, with stakes for Zimbabwe, the SADC region, and its nuanced political landscape.