Mozambique: Thousands attend funeral for slain lawyer Elvino Dias – Watch

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: Thousands attend funeral for slain lawyer Elvino Dias – Watch

12:39 CAT | 23 Oct 2024

Photo: Lusa

The church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, on the outskirts of Maputo, was too small to accommodate thousands of people this morning, including hundreds of lawyers, for the funeral of Elvino Dias, legal advisor to presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane.

The funeral procession, which left the centre of Maputo at around 9:20 a.m., took an hour to reach the parish, escorted by the police and flanked by a group of motorcyclists, in a journey that was completed without incident.

Cortejo fúnebre de Elvino Dias muitas vezes interrompido pela população que gritava “Elvino… Elvino” “povo no poder” “este país é nosso” “Queremos justiça…” “assassinos fora”
Centenas de pessoas no cemitério, outras em cima das árvores. “Mataram Elvino, mas não calaram o povo” pic.twitter.com/wUtmmI35hU

— Alexandre Nhampossa (@AllexandreMZ) October 23, 2024

Upon arrival, hundreds of Mozambican lawyers including the chairman of the Mozambican Bar Association, Carlos Martins, received the remains of Elvino Dias, one of the two top aides of Venâncio Mondlane murdered on Friday in Maputo.

In an atmosphere of deep consternation, the interior of the church became too small, leading hundreds to improvise chairs outside.

Speaking during the homily, the Archbishop of the diocese of Maputo, João Carlos Nunes, acknowledged the general feeling in the church: “We feel materially crushed by this blow.”

Describing this crime as “cruel and unexpected”, the Archbishop added: “The violence and barbarity that took his life shocks us deeply.”

The archbishop also said that Elvino Dias, despite “his early departure, lived a life full of meaning”, dedicating his work to “defending the rights of the most vulnerable”.

“Perhaps that is why he was not well understood and welcomed,” he said.

He also added that this death is “a warning”, saying: “Evil continues to threaten our society, our country and our city.”

For the Archbishop of Maputo, “it is not enough to just mourn” the death of Elvino Dias, arguing that it is necessary to “transform the pain” with a “renewed commitment to justice, truth and, above all, peace”.

“His death challenges us to continue this mission, the search for truth, justice and peace. We cannot be indifferent to the suffering that affects so many of our families,” João Carlos Nunes said.

Candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who called for mass participation in today’s funeral ceremonies, was not present, having announced in recent days that he is “in an undisclosed place”. Presidential candidate and leader of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM, the third parliamentary force), Lutero Simango, attended the service.

At the same time, the wake for Paulo Guambe, the electoral representative [mandatário] of Podemos, the party supporting Mondlane’s candidacy, was held at the morgue of Maputo Central Hospital in the city centre.

READ: Mozambique: Dozens in Maputo bid farewell to Paulo Guambe, who will be laid to rest in Jangamo this Thursday

Paulo Guambe was a founding member of Podemos, as well as a teacher, scriptwriter, producer and director. His funeral is scheduled to take place at the Jangamo cemetery in the southern Mozambique province of Inhambane on Thursday.

The Mozambican police confirmed to Lusa on Saturday that the vehicle in which the victims, who were gunned down, were travelling in had been “ambushed”.

The crime, as well as the protests against the provisional results of the general elections held on 9 October, led Venâncio Mondlane to call for peaceful marches in Mozambique on Monday, which were dispersed by strong police action, with tear gas used and shots fired into the air.

According to a hospital source, the clashes left at least 16 people injured in Maputo.

The police response to the demonstrations was condemned by the international community, with calls for restraint from both sides from Portugal, the European Union and the African Union.

The elections of October 9 included the seventh for president, simultaneously with those for legislatures and provincial assemblies and governors.

The National Electoral Commission (CNE) has 15 days to announce the official results, which is due to be Thursday, October 24th. The Constitutional Council will then be responsible for announcing the results, after also concluding the analysis of any appeals, but without a set deadline for this purpose.

Cddf.fb_