Presidential candidate Mondlane warns ‘no more theft, humiliation’ – Lusa Mozambique Elections

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Presidential candidate Mondlane warns ‘no more theft, humiliation’ – Lusa Mozambique Elections

8:35 CAT | 30 Sep 2024

Screen grab: Venâncio Mondlane / Facebook

Presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane warned on Sunday in Montepuez, northern Mozambique, that after “50 years of humiliation and theft”, the tsunami after the general elections on 9 October will blow everything away because “this time it’s over”.

“This year is for us to honour the man who spent 40 years fighting for these people and who died in the mountains as a wretch (…) This year, we will not accept any mafia in memory, in honour, of Afonso Dhlakama [historic Renamo leader, 1953-2018],” said Mondlane, at an impromptu rally that brought together thousands of people this Sunday morning in Montepuez, Cabo Delgado.

“The truth is that the tsunami this year will blow everything and everyone away. Nothing will remain,” he warned, alluding to the dozens of demonstrations with thousands of people that he organised at the end of 2023 against the official result of the local elections in Maputo, in which he led the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) list, which gave victory to the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), in the face of allegations of manipulation.

“That former boss of mine [Renamo leader Ossufo Momade, a party he left in May] went under the table to get the envelope. (…) So, if you think they’re going to use lies, fraud, and manipulation again to steal the will of the people, it’s good to know that it’s not going to be like the other times because the young people have already said that they’re willing to lose their lives,” he said.

Repeated accusations of possible electoral fraud and attacks on Frelimo, which has led Mozambique since independence in 1975, were the target of the former Renamo MP, to the sound of speakers repeating “Venâncio has arrived, the lie is over”.

“My friends, let’s say one thing: this time it’s over,” said Mondlane, who his supporters repeatedly backed.

“I think it’s clear to the whole world that the time has come to give Mozambique back to Mozambicans,” he said, claiming that it had been 50 years of humiliation, theft, corruption and Mafia.

In a province rich in natural gas and precious stones – Montepuez is home to one of the world’s largest ruby mines – among other resources, which terrorist attacks have plagued for seven years, Venâncio Mondlane said: “Cabo Delgado’s money should stay in Cabo Delgado, to open schools, open hospitals, open roads.”

Mozambique is holding its seventh presidential elections on 9 October, in which the current head of state, Filipe Nyusi, who has reached the constitutional limit of two terms, is no longer running, at the same time as the seventh legislative elections and the fourth for provincial assemblies and governors.

The election campaign in Mozambique ends on 6 October.

In addition to Venâncio Mondlane, supported by the Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos), which has no parliamentary representation, also running for president are Daniel Chapo, supported by the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo), Ossufo Momade, supported by the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo, the largest opposition party) and Lutero Simango, supported by the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM, the third party in parliament).

According to data from the National Electoral Commission, more than 17 million voters are registered to vote, including 333,839 registered abroad.

Source: Lusa