Mozambican opposition politician Venâncio Mondlane arrived on Thursday at Maputo International Airport, where he swore himself in as country’s president.
For two months, he had been living abroad in self-imposed exile fearing for his life after two of his top political aides were gunned down in a Maputo street, following the 9 October 2024 elections, considered to have been the most fraudulent in Mozambique’s history.
The ruling Frelimo party and its presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, were declared winners by the National Electoral Commission (CNE) and subsequently confirmed the victors by the Constitutional Council.
Mondlane and PODEMOS (Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique), the party that backed his independent candidature, disputed the results, driving the country into
Police blocked access to the airport for thousands of his supporters and fired tear gas to hold them back. Mondlane’s convoy left the airport and was greeted by huge crowds who lined Acordos de Lusaka avenue to see and march alongside his car, until he reached the Estrela Vermelha market, a hive of opposition supporters.
As Mondlane stood on top of a car and addressed the huge crowds waiting to hear him, police intervened and shot at his supporters, killing one instantly, and injuring others.
Mondlane told his supporters that he had returned to make history, and to tell those calling for dialogue that he is present to join any ongoing dialogue initiatives, and if, need be, face criminal proceedings against him for allegedly being responsible for the post-election violence that gripped the country in the aftermath of the elections.
Furthermore, he also said that he had returned to witness what he labelled a “silent genocide” of his supporters – according to the local non-governmental organisation Plataforma Decide, 291 people have been killed.
Comment
There were fears that Mondlane would either be detained as he landed at the airport or murdered. Fortunately, this did not happen suggesting that doves within the ruling Frelimo party might currently have the upper hand over the hawks, who would want to eliminate the threat to the party.
Whether Mondlane will be part of the dialogue remains unclear. While Daniel Chapo, speaking at the presidency about discussions with parties represented in the incoming parliament, affirmed that civil society would be included, he pointedly avoided confirming whether Mondlane would be involved in the dialogue, adding that the table of dialogue is open.
This would be a huge mistake. Upon learning of the death of a protester on Thursday, trucks blocked the main thoroughfare linking the north to the south in Maluane, some 62km from Maputo city, showing that Mondlane still enjoys strong support from vast swathes of the Mozambican population who are willing to go to lengths to defend him and advance his cause.
Indeed, Mondlane’s return to Maputo must be considered as a show of strength, directly challenging the authorities to dare either to detain him or assassinate him. He is also challenging the authorities, specifically Chapo to dare proceed without him – to the people, Mondlane seems to have more legitimacy than Chapo.
Chapo and the ruling Frelimo party is failing to convince the West that they won the elections soundly, so much so that the United States and the usual Western bloc have yet to congratulate both on their “victory”. This is an albatross around Frelimo’s neck which would love to see the issue of rigged elections disappear in its rearview mirror.
Meanwhile, Mondlane will not have it all his way. His diplomatic passport was cancelled as soon as he disembarked at the Maputo International Airport, meaning that the regime is sending him a message that he must cooperate or else.
@2025, Mozambique Insights. All Rights Reserved
