Mozambique Elections: Nyusi slams Mondlane’s election victory claim, rise in violence – Watch

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Mozambique Elections: Nyusi slams Mondlane’s election victory claim, rise in violence – Watch

6:20 CAT | 28 Oct 2024

Screen grab: TVM

Mozambique’s president, Filipe Nyusi, on Monday criticised presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane for declaring himself the winner of the elections when tabulation was underway and warned of the consequences of escalating violence.

“While less than 10% of the votes were counted, he declared himself the undisputed winner, announcing that he had already created a transition of powers commission, calling on his supporters to demonstrate. Where on earth have we seen this before? On what continent, in what country? How can we know in advance that someone has won”, questioned Nyusi, while speaking remotely from Maputo with the Mozambican ambassadors.

In the same speech, the head of state assured that “in general, the campaign, voting and counting are going well”, although he noted that international observers only pointed out alleged cases of “ballot box stuffing” days after the vote, so they should clarify whether they witnessed such situations.

On October 10, the day after the general elections, presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane declared himself the winner of the elections, citing the results of the minutes [actas]and notices [editais] processed by his candidacy.

“We are making a public declaration of victory in light of the original, genuine minutes and notices that have reached us,” said candidate Venancio Mondlane, at the time.

In today’s speech, Filipe Nyusi insisted on a call for “calm and obedience to the law” in the face of the violent demonstrations of the last week, which he stressed had already caused injuries, some serious, to “more than 60 police officers”.

He called on the international community, particularly “those who claim to be friends of Mozambique” to “collaborate with good Mozambicans”, acknowledging that investors have shown concern about the current situation in the country.

Criticizing the escalation of violence that Mozambique has faced in recent days, Nyusi expressed concern about the cases of “vandalism”, destruction of public property and looting recorded in the country.

“We do no think that this s an issue concerning Podemos [the party supporting Venâncio Mondlane’s candidacy]. Let us understand a little bit if we’re not gradually getting into a serious mess on which we will have to hold some people accountable of these days,” Nyusi warned.

President Nyusi called for “accountability” on the part of all political parties and players, and for the use of “legal means” to contest the results that are already known, given that the Constitutional Council has not yet proclaimed the final results, also criticizing the warnings of new protests already announced by Venâncio Mondlane, while this process is underway.

“It is recognised that Mozambicans have the right to demonstrate and to freedom of expression, but these must be carried out in compliance with the law,” stated Nyusi.

Nevertheless, Nyusi stressed that the period of war in Mozambique is a phase that has been “overcome” and that there can be no “vandalism”, warning of the consequences of a political leader “losing control” of his statements.

“There is no room in Mozambique for us to fight. Our appeal is for all of us to be united and cohesive, focused on the development of the country, using the laws,” Nyusi said.

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The National Electoral Commission (CNE) of Mozambique announced on Thursday the victory of Daniel Chapo, supported by the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo, the party in power since 1975) in the election for President of the Republic on October 9, with 70.67% of the votes.

Venâncio Mondlane, supported by the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos, an extra-parliamentary party), came in second place, with 20.32%, but says he does not recognize these results, which still have to be validated and proclaimed by the Constitutional Council.

Frelimo also strengthened its parliamentary majority, increasing from 184 to 195 deputies (out of 250), and elected all 10 provincial governors of the country.

The announcement of the results by the CNE has once again sparked violent protests and clashes with the police in Mozambique, particularly in Maputo, by pro-Venâncio Mondlane demonstrators.

The Center for Public Integrity (CIP), a Mozambican non-governmental organization that monitors the electoral process, estimates that ten people died, dozens were injured and around 500 were arrested as part of the protests.

Num improvisado encontro virtual c/embaixadores de #Moçambique pelo mundo @filipe_nyusi num tom menos “doa a quem doer” apelou calma dos moçambicanos e comunidade internacional “estejemos unidos e coesos no desenvolvimento do país usando as leis” tendo destacado a lei eleitoral https://t.co/KmECOz4JLR

— Verdade Democracia (@DemocraciaMZ) October 28, 2024

Mantive esta tarde um encontro virtual com os embaixadores moçambicanos a partir dos seus países de missão para actualizar sobre o ponto de situação do país pós-eleitoral. pic.twitter.com/G57xFEmE3N

— Presidente Filipe Nyusi (@filipe_nyusi) October 28, 2024