Mozambique Police Fire on Venâncio Mondlane’s Caravan Amid Unrest

Mozambican police recently shot at Venâncio Mondlane’s caravan, injuring a member of his entourage during a protest march in Maputo. This incident highlights ongoing unrest following disputed election results. A political agreement aimed at state reforms is to be signed, yet criticisms persist concerning the exclusion of opposition figures from dialogue efforts, illustrating the nation’s struggles with social discontent and rising costs.

On a recent day, police in Mozambique fired upon the caravan of former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, injuring a member of his entourage. The event unfolded around 1 PM in the Hulene neighborhood, as Mondlane’s group was en route to Praça dos Combatentes from Praça da Juventude. “We were surprised when a heavily armed police group started shooting directly at the vehicle where Venâncio Mondlane was. They used tear gas, some explosives, real bullets and we had to flee because the situation was not pleasant,” relayed Abdul Nariz from Mondlane’s communications team.

The Mozambican police had taken up positions along major roads leading to the Joaquim Chissano Conference Center, where a political agreement concerning state reforms is to be signed in an effort to resolve the ongoing post-electoral crisis in the nation. This signing ceremony, scheduled to commence at 3 PM, is set to include parties such as Renamo and the Democratic Movement of Mozambique, as well as the non-parliamentary New Democracy, amidst a backdrop of dialogue that extends to provincial and municipal assemblies.

Despite the President’s assurances of inclusion in the dialogue, notable critics have highlighted the absence of Venâncio Mondlane, the second-place candidate in the recent elections. He leads a significant challenge against the electoral results, which have drawn widespread scrutiny since the first elections in 1994. President Daniel Chapo emphasized his intent to manage the post-election unrest and uphold national sovereignty, stating, “Just as we are fighting terrorism and there are young people who are shedding blood for the territorial integrity of Mozambique… even if it means shedding blood to defend this homeland against demonstrations, we will shed blood.”

Mozambique has been engulfed in substantial social unrest, initiated after the October 9 election results favored Daniel Chapo, leading to protests and strikes largely orchestrated by Mondlane. Although current protests are less intense, they continue to express discontent over the electoral results alongside rising living costs and other societal issues.

In summary, the recent incident involving police firing at Venâncio Mondlane’s caravan underscores the heightened tensions in Mozambique following disputed election results. The signing of a political agreement at the Joaquim Chissano Conference Center aims to address state reforms amid ongoing protests. The continuous absence of opposition figures like Mondlane in dialogues raises concerns about genuine inclusivity in the government’s outreach efforts. This climate of unrest points towards significant social dissatisfaction, challenging the government to restore stability and legitimacy.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com