Mozambique Elections: Mondlane protesters stirred to vandalism, violence, theft – Minister tells diplomats

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Mozambique Elections: Mondlane protesters stirred to vandalism, violence, theft – Minister tells diplomats

5:52 CAT | 04 Nov 2024

Photo: Rádio Moçambique

Mozambique’s minister of foreign affairs and cooperation on Monday accused Venâncio Mondlane of making speeches that turned demonstrations into “acts of vandalism, violence and theft”, asking the international community for “help” to restore “stability”.

“The speeches of candidate Mondlane and his supporters created the favourable environment for the transformation of demonstrations – a constitutional right – into acts of vandalism, theft and violence that spread throughout the country and resulted in the death of some people, arrests, looting and destruction of infrastructure and other people’s property,” said Verónica Macamo.

Venâncio Mondlane called for a general strike and week-long demonstrations in Mozambique, starting on 31 October, and marches in Maputo on 7 November.

The presidential candidate called this the third stage of the contestation of the results of the general elections on 9 October, following the protests on 21, 24 and 25 October, which led to clashes with the police, resulting in at least 10 deaths, dozens of injuries and 500 detainees, according to the Centre for Public Integrity, a Mozambican non-governmental organisation that monitors electoral processes.

In a message to the diplomatic corps accredited in Mozambique regarding the electoral process, Verónica Macamo accused Mondlane of calling for demonstrations that “ended in violence, death and the destruction of public infrastructure”.

“The majority of Mozambicans, and especially those on low incomes, are paying a very heavy bill, even going hungry because many live off street trading (…) We are concerned about the use of citizens, many of whom are teenagers, to commit criminal acts, which offend the legal norms and good customs of our people,” the minister pointed out.

Verónica Macamo also added that the demonstrations called by Venâncio Mondlane “discourage investors” with consequences for the “greater impoverishment” of people considered to be on low incomes.

“We reaffirm to our partners in the international community that, despite the troubled post-election environment characterised by tensions, the government is committed to stabilising the situation (…) We ask our cooperation partners to help us re-establish calm, serenity and stability,” declared the minister.

The Mozambique government once again called for “respect for the law” and called for dialogue between those involved in the electoral process.

“Our advice is to wait patiently for the Constitutional Council to validate the election results. We must trust in the institutions whose mission it is under the law to settle disputes,” concluded Verónica Macamo.

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On 24 October, the National Electoral Commission (CNE) announced the victory of Daniel Chapo, supported by the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo, the party in power since 1975), in the 9 October election for country’s president, with 70.67% of the vote.

Venâncio Mondlane, supported by the non-parliamentary Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos), came second with 20.32%, but said he did not recognise these results, which still have to be validated and proclaimed by the Constitutional Council.

🇲🇿 #Mozambique
Maputo’s business district is empty today, except for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation… pic.twitter.com/BqIIeM4AeH

— Cabo Delgado (@DelgadoCabo) November 4, 2024