The leader of the opposition in Mozambique is calling for unity before renewed protests
The leader of the opposition in Mozambique, Venâncio Mondlane, has called for unity ahead of a new round of protests against the results of the presidential election.
In a live radio broadcast on his Facebook page, Mondlane – who is in self-imposed exile – urged residents to hold hands in their neighborhoods at 11.45pm and sing the national anthem until New Year’s Eve.
“We must rediscover ourselves as Mozambicans,” he said.
Mozambique has faced one of its bloodiest weeks since October, when Mondlane began protests after rejecting his election defeat.
The monitoring group, Plataforma Decide, said that 179 people died in their beds last week, after the country’s highest court confirmed that the candidate of the ruling party, Daniel Chapo, won the election.
This brought the death toll to 278 since the protests began after the electoral commission declared Chapo the winner of the October election, extending Frelimo’s 49-year rule.
The dead included protesters, children and members of the security forces.
Mondlane fled Mozambique, saying his life was in danger after two of his aides were shot in October.
In his latest speech, he urged people to “cook and enjoy” in their neighborhoods, before a wave of protests begins on January 2.
“I am ready to lose my life in this fight,” he added.
Previously, he said he would install himself as president on January 15 – the day Chapo must be sworn in – despite the constitutional court recognizing his rival’s victory.
It is not yet clear how Mondlane intends to take over as he is in exile.
In a statement, Chapo said he will be “the President of everyone” after his inauguration.
“We will soon work together to solve the problems caused by this unfortunate situation,” he added.
The electoral commission announced that Chapo won with 71% of the votes, compared to Mondlane’s 20%.
The constitutional court reviewed the result last week, giving Chapo 65% and Mondlane 24%.
International election observers previously said the vote was flawed, pointing to doctors’ numbers and other irregularities during the counting.
The subsequent protests have severely disrupted the Mozambican economy.
More than 12,000 people have lost their jobs and more than 500 companies have been destroyed, said Onorio Manuel, vice president of the Confederation of Economic Associations, telling the local news website iO Pais.
Along with businesses, Frelimo offices, courts, police stations and road tolls were burned.
Last week, police reported that more than 1,500 inmates escaped from the maximum security prison, taking advantage of the political unrest.
Neighboring countries have also felt the impact of the unrest in Mozambique. Several thousand Mozambicans fled across the border into Malawi because of the violence.
And a worried South Africa has sent a special envoy, Sydney Mufamadi, to the capital of Mozambique, Maputo, to discuss the problem with President Filipe Nyusi, who will have to step down at the end of his two terms.
Mufamadi said the discussion focused on understanding the crisis and looking at how South Africa can help resolve it.
South African officials say they have stepped up intelligence and border security operations to stop criminals from crossing.
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