At least five people died and another 37 were injured in 51 demonstrations over the last five days to contest the election results in Mozambique, the Mozambican police announced today.
The five deaths occurred in night-time accidents in the urban areas where "individuals were placing barricades on the public highway and charging illegal fees to allow drivers to drive," said Orlando Modumane, spokesman for the general command of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM), during a press conference in Maputo.
Of the 37 injured, according to the official, 20 people, including five PRM officers, were injured during the demonstrations and another 17 were also injured in night-time traffic accidents that occurred in urban areas.
Orlando Modumane described the 51 demonstrations as "violent and tumultuous," noting that at least 24 commercial establishments were looted, seven vehicles, six houses and 10 tents were set on fire, in addition to several state institutions, including schools and police subunits, being vandalized during the protests.
"The acts of vandalism, looting and pillaging are spreading to the country's mining areas, where the perpetrators are burning camps and work machinery," added the spokesperson, who reported 136 arrests and 46 criminal proceedings filed across the country.
The police said that there had been an increase in the number of people on public roads, stating that at "no time" were peaceful demonstrations recorded, but rather violent ones, which have been led by "individuals with criminal conduct, under the influence of alcohol and other psychotropic substances, who are causing anarchy and chaos in urban centers."
"What we want to ensure is that the Police of the Republic of Mozambique always acts in a manner that is proportionate to what is happening on the ground. Therefore, some regrettable situations that may occur are unfortunately due to the conduct of some criminal individuals, it should be noted, who infiltrate the demonstrations and end up creating total terror," added Modumane.
The spokesperson appealed to people not to join the violent demonstrations.
The demonstrations have been called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who denies the victory of Daniel Chapo, supported by the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), who was declared the winner with 70.67% of the votes, according to results announced by the National Electoral Commission (CNE).
Mondlane came in second place, with 20.32%, but he said he did not recognize the results, which still have to be validated and proclaimed by the Constitutional Council, which has no deadline for this purpose and is still analyzing the dispute.
After street protests that paralyzed the country on October 21, 24 and 25, Mondlane once again called on the population to a seven-day general strike, starting on October 31, with nationwide protests and a demonstration concentrated in Maputo on the 7th, which caused chaos in the capital, with several barricades, burning tires and gunshots and tear gas fired by the police throughout the day to disperse the protesters.
Venâncio Mondlane announced that the protests will continue until the electoral truth is restored.
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