Mozambique Elections: Quelimane mayor calls for demonstrations throughout Zambézia from Friday onwards

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Mozambique Elections: Quelimane mayor calls for demonstrations throughout Zambézia from Friday onwards

6:03 CAT | 05 Dec 2024

File photo: TV Muniga

Renamo’s candidate for Governor of Zambézia, Manuel de Araújo, who does not recognise the results announced by the CNE, has called for demonstrations and marches throughout the province, starting this Friday at 3 p.m. .

The mayor of Quelimane, Manuel de Araújo, a member of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), on Thursday called for general demonstrations throughout Zambezia province from Friday until the results are proclaimed by the Constitutional Council (CC).

“We call on all Zambezians, in every district, town and neighbourhood of this vast and rich province, to raise their voices in a peaceful and orderly manner, to demand that the electoral truth be restored,” according to a statement from the mayor sent to Lusa.

Manuel de Araújo, mayor of Quelimane, is the Renamo candidate for governor of Zambézia province in the 9 October elections. The National Electoral Commission (CNE) declared Pio Matos, a candidate supported by the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), the winner.

The Renamo candidate for provincial governor, who does not recognise the results announced by the CNE, has called for demonstrations and marches throughout Zambézia, starting this Friday at 3 p.m. local time, warning that this is a constitutional right.

“Out of respect for the memory of the heroes who made this homeland a free and sovereign land, for the Constitution of the Republic and the will of the people, I address the people of Zambézia to reiterate our determination to ensure that popular sovereignty is respected,” reads Araujo’s message.

In the same document, Araújo said that “Zambézia has always chosen” its leaders through democratic processes, pointing out that the marches he has called for are a fight for the place that is “a bastion of freedom, democracy and conscious choice”.

“Once again, Zambezia has chosen Renamo to lead the destiny of this province, and we will not allow the sovereign will of our people to be obliterated by any trickery or manipulation,” he said.

“This is a struggle that transcends political parties; it’s a struggle for respect for democracy,” concluded Aráujo, calling for the entire province to participate in the demonstrations.

The Constitutional Council said on 25 November that it was “working hard” to achieve “electoral truth” about the October general elections and that the final results would be announced around 23 December.

Manuel de Araújo called for the marches at a time when presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane called for a new phase of electoral contestation lasting a week, starting on Wednesday, in “all the neighbourhoods” of Mozambique, with motor traffic paralysed.

“All the neighbourhoods will be in full swing,” said Venâncio Mondlane, calling for a new protest period from 4 to 11 December.

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The CNE’s announcement on 24 October that Daniel Chapo, backed by the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo, the party in power since 1975), had won the presidential election with 70.67% of the vote, sparked popular protests, called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, which have degenerated into violent clashes with the police.

According to the CNE, Mondlane came second with 20.32%, but he does not recognise the results, which must still be validated and proclaimed by the Constitutional Council.

Source: Lusa