A 29-year-old young man, Iván, denounces the insecurity on Julius Nyerere Avenue, where he opened a stall to serve a customer, highlighting the tense atmosphere of the demonstrations and the police presence.
On Julius Nyerere Avenue, in Maputo, inside the stall where only the door is ajar, Iván prepares the nails of the only customer, while thinking about closing early, on a day of strike called by the presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane.
“Anything I close and we have to bazaar. Julius Nyerere Avenue cannot be trusted here.”says the 29-year-old, who opened the stand to attend to an “emergency” in the nails of a regular customer, remembering the burning of tires and the police intervention, in that same place, in one of the demonstrations last week.
“Being able to work, no. I just had to adapt a little, a client called me. You can see the covers out there, I’m just trying to respond and then I’ll close them.“adds Iván Durão.
He has had his position for five years, only to treat nails, on that central avenue in Maputo. On the first of the seven days of strike requested by Venâncio Mondlane, he is attentive to the street, especially because if there is a demonstration, he wants to be there.
“The day starts normally, but after 12:00 the theme will be different. So I have to be there,” he says, guaranteeing: “I also go there in the march, because I can’t stay behind”.
In a tour carried out by Lusa through the capital, little movement and vehicle traffic is seen, with public and private establishments, as well as schools and other organizations, closed, although some public transport is in operation.
Police reinforcement is also visible on the main arteries of the city, but without problems, while some cafes and supermarkets are also open.
It can be seen that Internet services such as the WhatsApp messaging platform operate with limitations, at least in Maputo.
At the end of the morning, Alberto Luís, 35, walks along Julius Nyerere Avenue towards his house.
“No, we don’t work today. We have a week to stop (…) They already fired me, I have to control the situation at home,” he explains.
“Now it is still calm, but at any moment it will change. At the end of the day,” predicts Alberto, a computer technician on a day when he cannot use the WhatsApp network either: “There is nothing, it’s bad. We depend on other instances.”
Venâncio Mondlane called for a week-long general strike in Mozambique starting this Thursday, demonstrations at the district headquarters of the National Electoral Commission (CNE) and marches in Maputo on November 7.
Next to the popular Xiquelene market, informal vendors try to do business, selling a little of everything on the street, while police reinforcements are present. Still, in this area on the outskirts of Maputo, next to Praça dos Combatentes, even though there are people trying to sell and provide services, there is a lack of customers.
“There is nothing, there is nothing, there are no clients (…) there is no way, I have to be here,” says Ivo João, 32 years oldsitting with his cell phone repair stand installed on the street, with Venâncio Mondlane’s photo stuck there.
“There is no shortage of fear, we are always afraid”He admits, calculating the lack of business, after four hours: “Until then, still.”
Although he sees the atmosphere on the street as “very calm,” he also knows that at any moment everything could change and he might have to close “early.”
“If they start making noise I’ll have to leave.”admits.
Ana Gustavo, 42, is one of the many digital wallet agents – financial services that work from cell phones – who occupy Xiquelene Street and says she also understands the low demand.
“We have to claim our rights. It has to be like this, leaving Venâncio aside, Venâncio does not come in anywhere, Venâncio is a pillar for us (…) the people are the ones who are unhappy”guarantees.
The Mozambique police this morning sent written messages to mobile phones (SMS) asking the population to refrain from “criminal practices” on the first day of the strike.
Mondlane designated this as the third stage of challenging the general election results. on October 9 announced a week ago by the National Electoral Commission (CNE), which follows the protests held on the 21st, 24th and 25th.
The protests degenerated into clashes with police, resulting in at least 10 deaths, dozens of injuries and 500 arrests, according to the Center for Public Integrity, a Mozambican non-governmental organization that monitors electoral processes.
On October 24, the CNE announced the victory of Daniel Chapo, supported by Frelimo, a party in power since 1975, in the elections for President of the Republic on October 9, with 70.67% of the votes.
Source: Observadora
