Mozambique’s opposition leader vows to install himself as president

Mozambique’s main opposition leader Venancio Mondlane has rejected his defeat in presidential elections and announced that he will install himself as president on January 15.

His announcement came as his supporters staged violent protests across the country demanding 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 closed and people staying at home to avoid getting caught up in the worst unrest in the city since Frelimo came to power after independence in 1975. Were.

Frelimo offices, police stations, banks and factories across the country were looted, vandalized and set on fire.

The latest unrest began on Monday when Mozambique’s supreme court upheld the victory of Frelimo presidential candidate Daniel Chapo in October elections.

Mondlane challenged the results, alleging election rigging.

In a Facebook Live broadcast to his supporters on Tuesday, Mondlane said he rejected the constitutional court’s decision, adding that he would assume the presidency on January 15 – the day Chapo would be sworn in.

President Filipe Nyusi is set to step down at the end of his two terms.

It is unclear how Mondlane intends to take up the position, as he is currently in self-imposed exile in an undisclosed country.

He has often rallied his supporters through speeches on Facebook Live, but urged them to remain peaceful.

“We are with the people. We do not advocate violence of any kind,” Mondlane said in his latest address.

Chapo has not yet commented on his announcement.

The October election was the first time that both of them had run for president, with the electoral commission declaring Chapo the winner with 71% of the vote to Mondlane’s 20%.

The Constitutional Court modified the result, giving the Frelimo candidate 65% and Mondlane 24%.

Rights groups say more than 100 people have been killed in unrest since the election.

They accuse security forces of being responsible for many of the killings, but police commander Bernardino Raffaele previously told the BBC that his officers were acting in self-defense after the attack.

Mondlane fled Mozambique after accusing police of threatening behaviour, and in October two of his colleagues were shot dead.

The 50-year-old evangelical pastor ran as an independent candidate after breaking with the main opposition Renamo party.

His support is strongest among the youth, many of whom are unemployed and demanding change.

Frelimo fielded Chapo, 47, as its youngest-ever presidential candidate.

He has previously rejected suggestions that he and Frelimo rigged the vote, saying: “We are an organized party that prepares for its victory.”