Venâncio Mondlane Arrives In Maputo Under Strict Security Measures

Presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane arrived today at around 08:20 in Maputo after two and a half months leading the opposition to the general election results from outside and under heavy security measures in the airport area.

For more than two hours, the shots, from tear gas and machine guns, have intensified in the vicinity of the airport, where Mondlane supporters are concentrated and trying to break through the accesses, which are blocked and heavily guarded by the police and military.

A source close to the candidate told Lusa that Mondlane intends to leave the airport and go to the city center to "speak to the people".

Mondlane announced that his return to the country marks the beginning of a new phase of contesting the results of the October 9 general elections, which he called "Spearhead".

"If you want to assassinate me, assassinate me. If you want to arrest me, arrest me. I know that when I fall, the popular fury that will occur in Mozambique has no comparison in the history of Africa and Mozambique," he said.

Clashes between police and protesters have already left almost 300 people dead and more than 500 people shot since October 21, according to civil society organizations following the process.

The Constitutional Council (CC) of Mozambique has set January 15 as the date for the inauguration of the new President, who succeeds Filipe Nyusi.

On December 23, the CC, the last instance of appeal in electoral disputes, proclaimed Daniel Chapo, candidate supported by the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo, in power), as the winner of the presidential election, with 65.17% of the votes, as well such as the victory of Frelimo, which maintained its parliamentary majority.

The announcement immediately led to new clashes, destruction of public and private property, demonstrations, strikes and looting, but in the last week, without new calls for protests, the situation has returned to normal throughout the country.

The Supreme Court has previously stated that there is no arrest warrant issued for Mondlane in the courts.

But the Public Prosecutor's Office opened proceedings against the presidential candidate, as the mastermind behind demonstrations that, in Maputo province alone, caused damage, due to the destruction of public infrastructure, worth more than two million euros.