Zimbabweans demand South Africa not recognise their re-elected government

Zimbabweans demanded that the government of South Africa stop supporting what they described as an “illegitimate elected government of Zimbabweans.”

They made the call during the march from the Union Buildings triangle to the Zimbabwean Embassy in Pretoria on Friday, to reject the Zimbabwean election results.

This came after current Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa won 52.6% of the vote to enter his second term. His challenger, Nelson Chamisa, only managed to obtain 44% of the votes.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa went to Zimbabwe to congratulate an illegitimately elected president,”

leader of the march Advocate Talent Rusere told the gathering, citing that the South African government should stay away from Zimbabwean politics.

This is against the background that President Ramaphosa welcomed the election of Zimbabwe and described it as harmonious.

“The Republic of South Africa congratulates the government and the people of the Republic of Zimbabwe for organising and holding the harmonised elections to elect the President, National Assembly, and Local government representatives, which took place on 23 and 24 August 2023,” the statement from the presidency reads.

Such sentiments and the South African stance on Zimbabwean elections seem not to have gone down well with people, especially those opposing the re-elected President Mnangagwa and the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF).

Adv Rusere said Zimbabwe was a country that deserved its economic liberty.

“We are here to demand the re-election and as long as we are waiting for that re-election to happen, no borders and embassies should be open.”

“We cannot accept the people in embassies because they form part of an illegitimate administration.”

Adv Rusere said they wanted a Zimbabwean government that was led by the leaders who had been elected by the people.

He also said they were demanding a re-election with diaspora votes, which is in line with the constitution of Zimbabwe.

“We have enshrined a right to vote as Zimbabweans without a geographical limitation,” he said, citing that it was the responsibility of the government to ensure that Zimbabwean citizens vote wherever they are.

The reason a high number of Zimbabweans came to South Africa was that the economy of Zimbabwe had been politicised, the leader of the march said, adding that the Zimbabwean economy was allegedly benefiting only supporters of the ZANU-PF.

“We want every Zimbabwean to have an equal stake in that economy and this is a must.”

He also claimed that according to the Southern African Development Community report, it was true that “elections were not free and fair.”

“We did not have elections in Zimbabwe and Emmerson Mnangagwa is not the Zimbabwean president.”

The march, attended by more than 30 people, caused minor traffic disruptions as they occupied only one lane of the streets, which allowed the traffic to pass.

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