By : Lloyd Mahachi

Riot police in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, fired tear gas to disperse a crowd protesting alleged electoral fraud on Monday, just days after two opposition allies were shot dead. The protest was part of a nationwide strike called by opposition leader and presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, who claimed victory in the October 9 election.

Tensions escalated over the weekend after two Mondlane associates, lawyer Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe, a candidate from the Podemos party, were shot dead in Maputo. The European Union, African Union, and United Nations condemned the incident and called on authorities to identify the perpetrators.

International concerns are mounting, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging Mozambicans to remain calm and reject violence. African Union Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed deep concern over post-election violence and killings. US-based observers noted that the poll did not meet international standards for democratic elections, citing reports of vote buying, intimidation, and inflated voter rolls.

Mondlane described his call for a general protest as a “great success,” with 95% of private and public services paralyzed across the country. The strike was followed in several cities, including Chimoio, Nampula, Beira, and Maputo.

President Filipe Nyusi is stepping down after two terms, but his party’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, is widely expected to win. Other presidential candidates included Ossufo Momade of the main opposition party Renamo and Lutero Simango of the Mozambique Democratic Movement. Official results are still pending, with Mozambique’s electoral commission declining to comment on accusations of fraud.

The situation remains volatile, with Mozambicans awaiting official election results amidst escalating tensions and international pressure to address electoral irregularities and ensure a peaceful transition of power.

Editor : Josephine Mahachi