Ossufo Momade maintains that he supported challenging the election results, but stressed that Renamo is against violent demonstrations. Renamo wants the elections to be annulled and a new vote to be held.
The president of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), Ossufo Momade, stated this Monday that the largest opposition party has joined thes demonstrations with pans in the windowschallenging the results of the general elections called by the presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane.
“Renamo is demonstrating because Renamo is the people (…) We play pots and pans, that is the demonstration. Renamo will not respond to these violent demonstrations, which can create problems for him and others,” said Ossufo Momade this Monday, at a press conference in Maputo, in which he demanded the annulment of the October 9 general elections and a new scrutiny. pointing out several irregularities in the process.
“Because we know that demonstrating is a right that we all have, but we will not allow demonstrating to deprive the rights of the brother next door. That António over there can’t go to work, that ‘mom’ who sells her tomatoes doesn’t go to the market. We do not agree with this, but We agreed to a peaceful demonstration, that complies with the Constitution of the Republic,” added Ossufo Momade, who was also one of the four presidential candidates in the October elections.
The presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who also does not recognize the electoral results announced by the National Electoral Commission (CNE), called for three days of panelaço – which ends this Monday, between 9 and 10 p.m. local time -, which have been held in throughout the country, from balconies and windows, but which have degenerated into new outbreaks of violence in the streets.
On Saturday, like the next day, whistles began to be heard early in the afternoon. and soon the sounds of pots and horns were heard throughout the center of Maputoand pro-Venâncio Mondlane protesters restricted traffic in some suburbs.
Mozambique. Mondlane calls for new “demonstrations via the pot”, the platform reports 22 deaths in the last three days
Around 9:30 p.m. local time (two hours less in Lisbon) on Saturday, it was practically impossible to circulate on Julius Nyerere Avenue, near the Xiquelene market, either because of the stones of all sizes placed on the road or because of the protesters who were they approached. The motorists, according to Lusa, tried to reverse the march with several vehicles, while other protesters set up barricades, demanding payment of amounts ranging between 10 and 50 meticais (15 to 75 euro cents) to let the motorists pass.
In another nearby area, at the entrance to the Maxaquene neighborhood, on Vladimir Lenine Avenue, the result of the call made by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane for a “pothole” to challenge the electoral results occurred in the street and the artery was closed into traffic, while the tires burned on the road.
“If you move forward, they will burn your car.”warned one protester, with a whistle in his mouth, while dozens, of all ages, banged pots and drums in the street, in a festive atmosphere.
In central streets of Maputo, such as Avenidas 24 de Julio, Eduardo Mondlane, Julius Nyerere, Joaquim Chissano or Mao Tse-Tung, among others, vuvuzelas, whistles and banging of pans were also heard during the weekend, especially from windows and balconies, while others went down to the street and whistled at the cars.
Those traveling in vehicles also joined the chorus, honking their horns. Some placed cans on wires, making the sound even louder as they hit the asphalt.
This protest was called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who promised to announce new ways to challenge the results announced by the CNE on Tuesday.
Mozambique experienced the third day of the call on Friday “third phase” of the fourth stage of strikes and demonstrations that question the electoral results called by Venâncio Mondlane, who denies the victory of Daniel Chapo, supported by the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo, in power), with 70.67% of the votes.
Mondlane said protests will continue “until the electoral truth is restored.”
According to the CNE, Mondlane came in second place, with 20.32%.but he stated that he does not recognize the results, which still must be validated and proclaimed by the Constitutional Council, which does not have deadlines for this and is still analyzing the litigation.
After the street protests that paralyzed the country on October 21, 24 and 25, Mondlane once again called on the population to a seven-day general strike, starting on October 31, with national protests and a demonstration concentrated in Maputo on October 7, causing chaos in the capital, with several barricades, burning tires and police shooting and tear gas throughout the day.
At least 25 dead in five days of demonstrations in Mozambique
Source: Observadora
