Updated: Police disperse Mondlane supporters amidst tension and attempted talks – Mozambique Elections

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Updated: Police disperse Mondlane supporters amidst tension and attempted talks – Mozambique Elections

9:17 CAT | 31 Oct 2024

Photo: Lusa

A group of supporters of presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, marched this afternoon from the suburbs of Maputo. The protest was stopped by the police in the centre of the capital, with visible police restraint, who even tried to negotiate.

At around 14:00 local time, after almost an hour of marching from Hulene, in the suburbs, a group of a few dozen that was growing along the way, demonstrating peacefully, met the police force a few hundred metres from the square of the Mozambican Women Organisation (OMM), Square, already in the centre of Maputo.

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After several appeals not to advance by the police commander on the ground, with an armoured vehicle already crossing the street at the entrance to the Polana Caniço neighbourhood, within a minute the demonstrators were demobilised with several launches of tear gas.

As the demonstrators retreated, the same order was immediately given to stop the police action, with most of them already away from the scene.

Before the intervention, Yassin tried to ‘negotiate’ with the police, explaining that the young people were demonstrating peacefully but to no avail.

‘We have an established right, so we must keep marching, as long as it’s peaceful. The police should come to protect, not to attack, which is what is happening now. I was talking to the commander on the other side, and he was controlling the operations until we reached Xiquelene without a hitch (…) It seems that the demonstration has to be in the suburbs,’ he lamented.

After the police action, the demonstrators returned, and moments of tension ensued at the site, between shouts of protest and the Mozambican anthem being sung by some on their knees. Others insisted on negotiating with the police to try to continue the march, which didn’t happen without any reasons being given.

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After an hour, with some tyres already on fire inside the neighbourhood, as in previous protests, the police dismantled the security cordon they had set up at the site, keeping some resources in the surrounding area.

Even so, Carlos Nhiancale didn’t accept this, saying that he left his house to demonstrate peacefully: ‘I’d like to ask the police why they’re firing tear gas because the people are demonstrating peacefully. Where are we supposed to go? They’re the ones looking for trouble. Let them march as they please.

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Presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane called for a week-long general strike in Mozambique starting today, demonstrations at the National Electoral Commission (CNE) district offices and marches in Maputo on 7 November.

On a tour of the capital by Lusa, little movement or traffic is visible. Public and private establishments, as well as schools and other organisations, are closed, although some public transport is operating.

Police reinforcements are also visible on the city’s main arteries, but no problems have been reported. Some cafés and supermarkets are also open.

Internet services, such as the WhatsApp messaging platform, are limited, at least in Maputo.

The Mozambican police sent written messages to mobile phones (SMS) this morning asking the population to refrain from ‘criminal practices’ on the first day of the strike.

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Mondlane called this the third stage of the protest against the results of the 9 October general elections announced a week ago by the National Electoral Commission (CNE), following the protests held on the 21st, 24th and 25th.

The protests degenerated into clashes with the police, resulting in at least 10 deaths, dozens of injuries and 500 detainees, according to the Centre for Public Integrity. This Mozambican non-governmental organisation monitors electoral processes.

On 24 October, the CNE announced Daniel Chapo’s victory, supported by Frelimo, the party in power since 1975, in the election for President of the Republic on 9 October, with 70.67% of the votes.

Source: Lusa