Mozambique: Chapo claims violent unrest had nothing to do with elections

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Mozambique: Chapo claims violent unrest had nothing to do with elections

8:42 CAT | 15 May 2025

Photo: Rtv Catandica

Mozambican President Daniel Chapo on Tuesday claimed once again that the unrest following the December announcement of the results from the 9 October general elections in reality had nothing to do with the elections.

Speaking in the municipality of Catandica in Barue district, in the central province of Manica, Chapo claimed that the violence of the post-election rioting and its massive economic and social impact showed there were other intentions that had no connection with the election results.

He stressed that the destruction caused by the rioters affected the entire population. “When we destroy roads, schools, health units, water supply systems, and electricity pylons, it is we who are going to need these infrastructures”.

“Violent, criminal and illegal demonstrations do not help develop the country”, declared Chapo. “The same people who took part in the demonstrations will feel the lack of the goods that have been destroyed. These infrastructures were built for the people. Those who destroy these infrastructures are sabotaging the people’s property”.

The President said it was a good thing that people should think differently – but that was no reason to embark upon violence.

“Members of the same family, even couples or twins, do not think in the same way”, he added. “This difference brings development. It brings wealth. The fact that someone thinks differently cannot lead to hatred or to violence”.

Chapo urged all Mozambicans to fight against violence. He argued that violence begins in the home, and then spreads into the neighbourhoods, and becomes generalised. To prevent this “we must encourage a culture of peace”, he stressed.

“If you sow hatred, you will harvest hatred”, he warned. “If you sow violence, you will harvest violence. If you want love, you must sow love”.

All Mozambicans, he declared, “should contribute so that peace, reconciliation and national unity are a reality in the country”.

“Our parents and grandparents fought for national independence”, said Chapo. “They fought for our freedom. They sacrificed their lives for an independent country. This freedom should be valued, and the best way of valuing it is to respect other people”.

Those who lost elections, should accept defeat and congratulate the winners, he urged.

But such consensus proved impossible when allegations of serious fraud were not investigated, and when the highest body in matters of electoral law, the Constitutional Council, refused to order a recount of the votes.

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Chapo also stressed that only through increasing agricultural production and other honest activities could the country develop. “Let us work and produce”, he urged. “The important thing is that everybody should work and produce more food. That is what will make Mozambique grow”.

Source: AIM