Mmusi Maimane, leader of Build One South Africa (Bosa), has condemned President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to attend the inauguration of Mozambique’s new president, Daniel Chapo, despite ongoing allegations of election fraud and escalating violence in the country.
In a Thursday interview on Newzroom Afrika, Maimane expressed disappointment over Ramaphosa’s presence at the event, which followed Mozambique’s contested elections in October 2024. He pointed out that the elections were marred by accusations of manipulation and the suppression of opposition voices. Maimane argued that Ramaphosa’s attendance sent a harmful message, especially in light of continuing human rights violations and violence that has claimed over 300 lives since the elections.
“Former president of Botswana and others have said the elections were neither free nor fair. Given the ongoing violence and human rights abuses, the president’s attendance is a betrayal of the people of Mozambique,” Maimane said.
The elections in Mozambique have been heavily disputed, with opposition groups alleging widespread fraud by the ruling Frelimo party. Despite these concerns, the Mozambique Constitutional Council declared the elections credible, and Chapo was sworn in as the country’s new president.
Maimane also highlighted what he saw as a double standard in Ramaphosa’s diplomatic decisions. He noted that Ramaphosa had not attended the inauguration of Zambia’s opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema, despite the fact that Zambia’s elections were deemed free and fair. “When the opposition wins in a free and fair election in Botswana, the president doesn’t attend. But when Frelimo wins a contested election, the president attends,” Maimane said, drawing comparisons with Zimbabwe’s ZANU-PF regime.

Mmusi Maimane Criticizes Ramaphosa’s Attendance at Mozambique Inauguration Amid Election Fraud Claims
He accused Ramaphosa of undermining South Africa’s role as a defender of democracy in the region. “This is a complete reversal of democratic practice,” Maimane asserted. “South Africa is not playing an active role in defending human rights in the region.”
The Bosa leader also raised concerns about South Africa’s stance on sovereignty, suggesting that the government uses this principle as an excuse to avoid addressing human rights violations in neighboring countries. He likened this to ignoring a leaking roof and focusing on mopping up the water inside the house instead of fixing the source of the problem.
Maimane referenced South Africa’s previous handling of the Zimbabwean crisis, where political turmoil in 2007 led to an influx of Zimbabwean refugees into South Africa. “When democracy fails in neighboring countries, it becomes our problem,” he said.
Additionally, Maimane criticized South Africa’s approach of “quiet diplomacy,” which avoids taking firm stances on human rights abuses. He questioned the extent to which the South African government engages with opposition forces in countries like Mozambique, emphasizing the need for open dialogue.
As violence continues to surge in Mozambique after the controversial elections, Maimane’s comments reflect growing disillusionment with South Africa’s diplomatic practices, especially among regional leaders and human rights advocates who feel that South Africa should take a more decisive stand against authoritarianism in Southern Africa.
“While we send troops to the DRC, we ignore violence in our own neighborhood. It’s like witnessing a fight next door and choosing to attend their ceremonies instead of intervening to stop the violence,” Maimane said, reiterating his call for stronger regional leadership.
