Mozambican presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane has announced a “National Demonstration Against the Murder of the People” to be held from October 31 to November 7, protesting the recent election results and the killing of two of his advisors.
Supported by the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos), Mondlane made the announcement in a Facebook live session on October 29, which drew over 166,000 views.
In response, Mozambique’s Interior Minister accused Mondlane, who is currently in South Africa, of inciting protests and manipulating public opinion via social media. The Minister urged social media users to “reject this manipulation, as it promotes unrest and destruction.”
Mondlane revealed that a prominent businessman had approached him, encouraging him to accept Frelimo’s “crumbs,” as the ruling party had allegedly secured major contracts with global multinationals. Defiant, Mondlane called on Mozambicans to make sacrifices for the country’s future, stating: “It’s time to either change or save this nation. We must act now.”
During the broadcast, Mondlane urged citizens to stage protests outside Electoral offices and “pause all activity for a week.” He added: “This isn’t a battle for foreigners. We Mozambicans must free ourselves from Frelimo”.
Shortly after, Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda again accused Mondlane of orchestrating these demonstrations from abroad, claiming he is the “moral author” of the unrest. Ronda emphasized that “many families are suffering” due to these protests, which lead people to later regret their involvement.
The tensions between Mondlane and the Government remain high. The police have filed a criminal complaint against Mondlane for alleged attacks on law enforcement, while Podemos has submitted an appeal to the Constitutional Council for a recount of the votes, which the National Electoral Commission claims favored Frelimo’s presidential and legislative candidates.