Mozambique Elections: Frelimo leadership denounces ‘political intolerance’ amid protests

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Mozambique Elections: Frelimo leadership denounces ‘political intolerance’ amid protests

10:31 CAT | 17 Dec 2024

Screen grab: STV

The Frelimo Political Commission denounced “the threats” and “acts of vandalism” in the demonstrations against the results of the October 9 elections, and called for inter-party dialogue.

The Political Commission of the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo, in power) met on Monday to protest against “political intolerance”, denouncing threats and attacks by protesters, as well as vandalism and destruction of its headquarters.

“The Political Commission strongly condemns acts of violence, threats and aggression, whether physical or moral, directed at our members and supporters and citizens in general”, reads the statement from the 38th ordinary session of that body, which took place in Maputo.

“We firmly repudiate the acts of vandalism perpetrated against our headquarters, which include fires, looting and destruction of property, acts that constitute political intolerance”, adds the statement issued at the end of the Frelimo Political Commission meeting, chaired by the president of Frelimo, Filipe Nyusi, who is also President of the Republic of Mozambique.

Mozambique, especially Maputo, has been the scene of demonstrations and stoppages called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who rejects the results announced by the National Electoral Commission (CNE), which attributed victory to Daniel Chapo, a candidate supported by Frelimo, but which still have to be validated by the Constitutional Council (CC) by December 23.

Frelimo calls on political parties and presidential candidates to wait for the validation of the results, stating that the party is open to dialogue with the aim of promoting “peace, democracy and the rule of law”.

“We have witnessed intimidation and intolerance manifested in the form of coercive practices and the imposition of leaflets on vehicles, jeopardizing the freedom that Mozambicans have achieved over decades, with great sacrifice”, reads the Frelimo party’s statement, which condemns “any act that deprives citizens of the full and peaceful exercise of their rights and freedoms”.

Presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane said this Monday that the announcement of the results of the general elections by the CC, expected to be on December 23, will determine whether Mozambique “moves towards peace or chaos”.

“If we have electoral truth, we will move towards peace, if we have electoral lies, we [the announcement of the results] will lead the country to fall into chaos”, warned Venâncio Mondlane, who does not recognize the results announced by the National Electoral Commission and which must be validated by the CC by next Monday, 20 days before the end of the current parliamentary term.

Venâncio Mondlane insisted, in a live broadcast from his Facebook account yesterday, that the “words that will come out of the mouth” of the presiding judge of the CC, Lúcia Ribeiro, will “determine whether the country moves towards tranquillity or towards the precipice”.

“On Monday, December 23, all activity in Mozambique must stop. But absolutely all activity. It is a day when we will not have any work activity (…). We will stay at home to listen to the ruling of the Constitutional Council”, Venancio Mondlane appealed, in the same speech.

Source: Lusa