Mozambique opposition calls protest strike amid election turmoil

By : AFP

Date: 30 October 2024 12:46pm WAT

A protester from the Maxaquene neighborhood lays on the ground pretending to be injured to mock the Mozambican security forces as another one holds an incendiary bottle as they demonstrate in Maputo on October 24, 2024. - Daniel Chapo, a 47-year-old former provincial governor, will be Mozambique's next president, the electoral commission announced on October 24, 2024, more than two weeks after the October 9 vote was contested in the streets and marred by numerous irregularities according to observers. When his victory was announced, hundreds of demonstrators protesting against fraud, described as "gross" by the Catholic Church, headed to the center of the capital where the electoral commission was delivering the results. The police force blocking their path tried to disperse them with tear gas on an avenue in the capital Maputo where tires were set on fire, election signs torn up and projectiles thrown at the police, an AFP team observed. (Photo by ALFREDO ZUNIGA / AFP)

Mozambique’s opposition leader, Venancio Mondlane, whose whereabouts were unknown Wednesday, has called for a week-long strike to protest the result of a presidential election.

Tensions have simmered in the southern African nation where the ruling Frelimo party, in power for 49 years, won an October 9 vote. Opposition parties and election observers have denounced irregularities in the vote.

Mondlane, 50, who is backed by the small Podemos party and claimed victory shortly after the vote, has called for a nationwide strike from October 31 to November 7.

“We’re going to start a public demonstration, a week-long strike,” he said in a Facebook discussion on Tuesday.

He also said he had to “cross four borders… to do this live”, with speculation mounting about his whereabouts.

Police said they were investigating Mondlane after he staged protests last week, which could explain his possible departure from the country.

“The Mozambique Republic Police (PRM) has already opened a criminal case against Venancio Mondlane and his supporters for the crimes of arson and possession of a firearm,” spokesperson Orlando Mudumane told reporters.

Mondlane has widely used social media platforms to communicate with supporters, though the strategy has been complicated by internet disruptions in the country.

According to the electoral commission, Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo, 47, won the presidential race with 71 percent of votes, while Mondlane got 20 percent.

Podemos, which overshadowed the main opposition party Renamo, on Monday seized the country’s Constitutional Court, asking for a vote recount.

According to the Public Integrity Center (CIP) advocacy group, opposition parties are discussing proposing a national unity government.

“The idea is to unite the opposition in a single front to oppose the results of the most fraudulent elections since 1999,” CIP said in a statement.

At least 11 people were killed by police in post-electoral violence and more than 50 others were injured, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Police previously said that 20 people had been injured and that two people had died, without giving further details.

It remained unclear if people would heed Mondlane’s fresh call to “paralyse” the country and take to the streets from northern Cabo Delgado to the capital Maputo, more than 2,200 kilometres away (about 1,300 miles).

Mozambique’s Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told reporters that “nothing can be solved with violent actions.”

“The defense and security forces will continue to carry out their mission (to ensure) the free movement of people and goods,” Ronda told reporters.

Election observers, including from the European Union, have noted serious flaws before, during and after the vote.