Mozambique: Mondlane criticizes Chapo’s speech calling for “defence of the homeland”

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Mozambique: Mondlane criticizes Chapo’s speech calling for “defence of the homeland”

1:37 CAT | 25 Feb 2025

File photo: Observador

Former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane today criticized the Mozambican President’s statements made on Monday about the need to “defend the homeland” against demonstrations, “even if it means spilling blood”, describing the speech as unconstitutional.

There is no death penalty in Mozambique (…) Our Constitution states that the right to life is a fundamental right and that is why there is no death penalty in Mozambique. We cannot, under any circumstances, regardless of our position, go public and say that, in order to preserve this or that, we are going to spill blood”, declared Mondlane, during official ceremonies celebrating the five years since the elevation of Vilankulo, in the province of Inhambane, to the status of municipality.

At issue are Chapo’s statements during a rally in the city of Pemba, in the province of Cabo Delgado, in the north of the country, where he is on a working visit until February 26.

“Just as we are fighting terrorism and there are young people who are spilling blood for the territorial integrity of Mozambique, for the sovereignty of Mozambique, to maintain our independence, here in Cabo Delgado, even if it means spilling blood to defend this country against demonstrations, we are going to spill blood”, said the Mozambican President.

For Mondlane, Daniel Chapo’s position violates a constitutionally established right: the right to demonstrate.

“The right to demonstrate, as long as it is peaceful, is constitutional”, he stressed.

Mozambique has been experiencing a climate of strong social unrest since October, with demonstrations and strikes called by Mondlane, who rejects the election results of October 9, which saw Daniel Chapo win the presidential elections.

Currently, protests, now on a small scale, have been taking place in different parts of the country and, in addition to contesting the results, people are complaining about the rising cost of living and other social problems.

Since October, at least 327 people have died, including around two dozen minors, and around 750 have been shot during the protests, according to the electoral platform Decide, a non-governmental organization that monitors the electoral processes.

Source: Lusa