Mozambique: Mondlane promises ‘unique political movement‘ with new party

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Mozambique: Mondlane promises ‘unique political movement‘ with new party

7:00 CAT | 15 Feb 2025

Screen grab: Venâncio Mondlane / Facebook

Mozambican politician Venâncio Mondlane considered on Friday that the party he wants to establish will be a “unique movement” and said that the creation of the political force is taking “advanced steps” to be the “best alternative” for government in Mozambique.

“This will not be a party, it will be more than a party. It will be an organisation whose political, social and humanitarian effects will be equivalent to what the Bible says: what no eye has ever seen, what no ear has ever heard and what no mind has ever imagined,” the former presidential candidate, who is leading the post-election contest, told Lusa during a march with thousands of supporters through the streets of the Mozambican capital, Maputo.

According to Mondlane, the political party should be presented this year and the ambition of the “movement” is to assume the position of “political alternative” for a people that “demand change”.

“At the moment we are taking very advanced steps to be the best alternative government in the whole of Mozambique’s 50 years of independence,” he added.

At issue are differences between Mondlane and the leadership of the Optimistic People for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos) Party, a political force that has seen its popularity rise since announcing, on 21 August 2024, its support for the politician’s candidacy in the 9 October presidential elections.

The ‘political agreement’ between Mondlane and Podemos came shortly after his Democratic Alliance Coalition (CAD) was rejected by the Constitutional Council for “irregularities”.

In the 9 October elections, Podemos, which has never had a member of parliament since its creation (2019), became the largest opposition party in Mozambique, taking away a status that had been held by the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) since the first multiparty elections in 1994.

Mondlane, who is leading the challenge to the election results in Mozambique, once again expressed his openness to dialogue with Daniel Chapo, the current Mozambican president, in order to end the post-election crisis in Mozambique.

Chapo is in dialogue with political parties to discuss state reforms, including amending the electoral law and the Constitution, initiated by the previous president, Filipe Nyusi, in the face of the country’s post-election crisis.

In January, Chapo announced consensus on terms of reference to discuss state reforms, including changes to the electoral law, after a meeting with four leaders of party forces, but without the presence of Mondlane, the second most agreed vote-getter with the Constitutional Council.

“They remain open [to dialogue]. They continue to believe that they are going to govern on the basis of weapons, but before these people, weapons are nothing,” declared Mondlane, alluding to the thousands of people who accompanied him for more than 15 kilometres.

Mondlane promises to continue demanding improvements for Mozambicans from the Mozambican government.

“We have already started to touch on some aspects that show progress. For example, the road tolls, which we demanded should end, now the government itself recognises this and is already starting talks with the concessionaires to reduce prices,” said Mondlane.

Mozambique has been experiencing a climate of intense social unrest since October, with demonstrations and stoppages first called by Venâncio Mondlane, who rejects the election results that gave victory to Daniel Chapo, the Frelimo-backed candidate.

Today, small-scale protests are taking place in different parts of the country and, as well as 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 organisation that monitors electoral processes.

Source: Lusa