By Jose Tembe | BBC News |
Mozambique’s main opposition leader, Venâncio Mondlane, has declared that he will install himself as president on 15 January after rejecting his defeat in presidential elections.
His announcement came as his supporters staged violent protests across the country to demand an end to the 49-year-rule of the Frelimo party.
The capital Maputo was like a ghost town on Christmas Eve, with almost all businesses shut and people staying at home to avoid being caught up in the worst unrest in the city since Frelimo rose to power at independence in 1975.
Frelimo’s offices, police stations, banks and factories have been looted, vandalised and set ablaze around the country. Since Monday, at least 21 people have been killed in the unrest, the interior minister said late on Tuesday.
The latest unrest began on Monday after Mozambique’s highest court upheld the victory of Frelimo’s presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, in elections held in October.
Mondlane had challenged the result, alleging that the poll was rigged.
In a Facebook live broadcast to his supporters on Tuesday, Mondlane said he rejected the ruling of the constitutional court, adding that he would assume the office of president on 15 January – the day that Chapo is due to be sworn in.
President Filipe Nyusi is due to step down at the end of his two terms.
It is unclear how Mondlane intends to take office, as he is currently in self-imposed exile in an unknown country.
He has frequently rallied his supporters via speeches on Facebook live, but has urged them to remain peaceful.
“We are with the people. We do not advocate any form of violence,” Mondlane said in his latest address.
Chapo has not yet commented on his declaration.
October’s election was the first time both of them had run for the presidency, with the electoral commission declaring Chapo the winner with 71% of the vote to Mondlane’s 20%.
The constitutional court revised the result, giving the Frelimo candidate 65% and Mondlane 24%.
Rights groups say that more than 100 people have been killed in unrest since the elections.
They accuse the security forces of being responsible for many of the killings, but police commander Bernadino Rafael had previously told the BBC that his officers had been defending themselves after coming under attack.
Mondlane fled Mozambique after accusing police of threatening behaviour, and two of his aides were shot dead in October.
The 50-year-old evangelical pastor contested the election as an independent after breaking away from the main opposition Renamo party.
His support is strongest among young people, many of whom are unemployed and demanding change.
Frelimo fielded the 47-year-old Chapo as its youngest ever presidential candidate.
He has previously rejected suggestions that he and Frelimo rigged the poll, saying: “We are an organised party that prepares its victories.”
In as much as we want change, especially in southern Africa this man is insensitive. He wants ordinary citizens to die for his crazy ambitions he was defeated by a very huge margin.he shld just accepts that he is the minority period.
You really wonder if it's necessary to hold election in Africa with the behavior of these so-called Revolutionary parties..
Power hungry,,, people are dying yet he and his family are safe…
Charge him with treason, idiot accept Victory if they are the winner, accept defeat and work To be a winner
That's how it's supposed be in Zim we don't have opposition
What do you expect from such leader?power hungry
This guy is really the man unlike other weak opposition in Zim who are bow down to Zanu i mean all 🤔
Zanu pf n ANC God is watching you.
The guy is out of his senses, he is playing with people's lives and feelings. For sake of peace he need not to mislead the povo how does he know that he won the election because he is not the one who counts 🤔. The guy is a danger to the country, if he is genuine he would try to use all other relevant means than orchestrating violence
Dictatorships and thugs are not defeated by elections but by the decisions of the people,time is now or never for people of Mocambique 👌
After everything is said and done, violence brings suffering to the innocent and poor citizens. Those guys must pursue the path of peace.
"Balance me here: you claim to have won the election with a majority vote, but the majority are protesting in the streets. How can that be?"
They will jail him for treason
Some pple are ready to be used by the wise for absolutely no gain
Uyu aakuda nyere live chaiyo, this guy is playing around with people's lives, is just too greedy and pompous while your relatives and family members are dying, his family and close family members are safe, why can't he direct them to join the wagon? Selfish politician
Things a not looking beautiful In Maputo I was in Moamba yesterday area Mozambiquean a serious about
Seems the US is trying the same blueprint it used in Venezuela. The question is will SADC allow a coup d'etat in Mozambique
Frelimo is power hungry…. People are dying yet the president and his family are safe heavy guarded
Idiot. Was he born in Mozambique or somewhere in an apartheid infested country? It seems he doesn't know Africa.
Mozambique going down tichafanana manje manje
Never give up faka pressure