Mozambique Elections: President laments ‘intimidation’ of people with different opinions’ – Watch

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique Elections: President laments ‘intimidation’ of people with different opinions’ – Watch

1:33 CAT | 06 Dec 2024

Photo: O País

The President of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, yesterday condemned the intimidation of people with “different opinions” and called for the use of “legal means” to resolve conflicts, reminding listeners that Mozambique is a “democratic state under the rule of law”.

“The intimidation of people with different opinions, the vandalisation of public and private infrastructures that serve everyone, cannot be a means of expressing our feelings,” declared the Mozambican president during the inauguration of a judicial court in Nhamatanda district, Sofala province.

Referring to a new phase of demonstrations called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, Nyusi stated that the use of violence to resolve any conflict “is not the prerogative of Mozambicans”, noting that differences will always exist.

“We use legal tools to resolve them. We are a country where the rule of law prevails, a democratic state based on the rule of law,” declared Filipe Nyusi, condemning acts of violence during demonstrations.

“When the law does not offer us the best path, let us be guided by dialogue to overcome our differences, and never violence or extortion of passengers,” the Mozambican head of state added.

In the same speech, Filipe Nyusi criticized the countries that allegedly support the protesters, citing to them as fomenters of violence.

“They do not do this in their countries and are even withdrawing their fellow citizens so as not to suffer violence. And where will we go? Who will withdraw us if this is our land?” Nyusi asked.

President Nyusi again demanded that children not participate in the demonstrations.

“We reiterate our appeal to society, particularly families, to protect our children. We have experience of children who grew up seeing their parents always fighting and they become violent because they think that’s just how things are,” he insisted.

Presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane on Tuesday called for a new phase of electoral protests for the week 4 to 11 December in “all neighbourhoods” of Mozambique, involving the cessation of vehicle traffic from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..

The announcement by Mozambique’s National Elections Commission (CNE) on October 24 of the results of the October 9 elections, attributing victory to Frelimo presidential candidate Daniel Chapo, with 70.67% of the votes, triggered calls by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane for protests, which have since degenerated into violent clashes with the police.

According to the CNE, Mondlane came second, with 20.32% of the vote, but the results still need to be validated and proclaimed by the Constitutional Council.

Source: Lusa / Miramar