Death toll has surpassed 104 in post-election protests in Mozambique amid escalating lawlessness on the part of civilian and security forces
The Mozambican police forces fired several shots again on Monday (9 December) to disperse demonstrators in a neighborhood at the outskirts of Maputo city.
Apart from those killed, also around 350 others were reportedly injured in the east African country since 21 October following disputed results of the presidential elections. The escalating violence coincides with fresh allegations of an attempt to assassinate Venancio Mondlane, leader of the PODEMOS opposition party and the runner-up in last month’s disputed presidential election, who is disputing the results.
Demonstrations began on 24 October when Mozambique electoral authority declared the long-time ruling party Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) candidate Daniel Chapo the winner with 70% of the votes cast, while Mondlane came in second with 20%, prompting him to challenge the vote as being “fraudulent” and call for protests. Meanwhile, the antigovernment demonstrations have also forced the shutdown of two power stations near the border with South Africa, causing electricity shortages across the south of the country and in neighboring Zambia. South Africa’s transport minister has said that Mozambican authorities plan an indefinite closure of the border due to civil unrest.