Venâncio Mondlane says he is at justice’s disposal: ‘I am in Mozambique’ – Watch

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Venâncio Mondlane says he is at justice’s disposal: ‘I am in Mozambique’ – Watch

12:31 CAT | 11 Jun 2025

Screen grab: Venâncio Mondlane / Facebook

Former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, leader of the challenge to the October election results, said yesterday that he is at the disposal of justice, after a Maputo court gave him 20 days to present his defence in a lawsuit filed by the Mozambican state.

“I am not in an uncertain place, I am here in Mozambique. I am here, isolated; I can be found and I have contacted the institutions, some of them are public institutions. Therefore, I am not [hard to find],” Mondlane declared in a live video on Facebook.

At issue is a summons published yesterday in the country’s largest circulation newspaper, Notícias, in which the Judicial Court of the City of Maputo gives the former presidential candidate 20 days to present his defence.

The court’s notice states that the case, without providing details of its content, is being heard in the ninth section of that court and that the defendant, Venâncio Mondlane, if he so wishes, may present his defence “in the declaratory action for conviction, in the form of ordinary common proceedings”, brought by the Mozambican state, through the Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Reacting to the announcement, the Mozambican politician reiterated that he is available to justice, adding that he has maintained contact with the Mozambican Attorney General’s Office through his lawyer whenever that body considers it appropriate.

“I have taken on this mission and this challenge of carrying this cross. I am disposed, if I am to be arrested, tried or convicted, I am at justice’s disposal. I am at the disposal of my people to continue to be an active politician and to be the voice of those who have no voice,” he added.

On March 11, the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) of Mozambique imposed an identity and residence order on Venâncio Mondlane, in a case in which the Public Prosecutor’s Office accuses the politician of inciting violence in the post-election demonstrations.

Lusa reported in November last year that the Mozambican Public Prosecutor’s Office was demanding compensation of €445,000 for damages caused by the demonstrations of the previous weeks – which worsened significantly in the following months – in the city of Maputo alone, in a civil action against Venâncio Mondlane and Podemos, the party that supported his presidential candidacy in the October 9 elections.

READ: Mozambique: Venâncio Mondlane among ‘defendants’ accused of ‘conspiracy’ – Lusa report

Mozambique: Prosecutors seek €480,000 from Mondlane in protest damages

Mozambique: PGR files civil lawsuit against Venâncio Mondlane and Podemos – AIM report

According to internal information from the Attorney General’s Office, to which Lusa had access, this action was filed by the representative of the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Judicial Court of the City of Maputo, but others of the same kind followed, particularly in Maputo province.

“Despite warnings and summons issued by the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the co-defendants [Venâncio Mondlane and Albino Forquilha, president of Podemos] continued to call for mass participation by citizens in the aforementioned protest movements, inciting them to rage and to halt all activities in the country,” the same information read.

The text added that “for this reason, there can be no doubt about the civil liability of the defendants, as instigators, insofar as their statements were decisive in verifying the results currently in crisis, especially damage to the state’s assets.”

READ: Mozambique Elections: PGR lawsuit aims to intimidate – Podemos

Mondlane led the largest challenge to the election results in Mozambique since the first multiparty elections (1994), and moved forward with the formation of the National Alliance for a Free and Autonomous Mozambique (Anamalala) party on April 3 of this year, as per the request submitted to the Ministry of Justice.

After several months of social unrest and protests against the election results – victory for Daniel Chapo and the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo, in power since 1975) – which led to looting, destruction of public and private property and around 400 deaths, the head of state and Venâncio Mondlane met for the first time on March 23, in Maputo, and agreed to pacify the country, meeting again on May 20.

Source: Lusa