The protests that have led to weeks of clashes with Mozambique’s security forces should last “maybe two to three months”, the country’s opposition leader told the BBC.
Venâncio Mondlane has called on his supporters to protest against the outcome of October’s presidential election, in which he came second to the candidate of the ruling Frelimo party.
The weeks-long demonstrations have led to violent encounters with police and at least 67 people have been killed, according to local monitoring group Plataforma Decide.
Mondlane, who is now in hiding, told the BBC he believes the pressure from the protests could force Frelimo into negotiations.
“But [they] We need to continue for longer, maybe two to three months, at the same pace,” Mondlane continued.
“The combination of diplomatic contact, protests and international pressure will lead to this.”
He said there is “no way” he can accept the election results, in which Frelimo’s candidate Daniel Chapo won with a whopping 71% of the vote.
Mondlane, an evangelical pastor who stood independently after breaking away from the main opposition Renamo party, received just 20%.
The election commission denied Mondlane’s claim that the poll was rigged in favor of Frelimo, which has been in power since independence 49 years ago.
But international election observers have said the election was flawed, pointing to rigged numbers and other irregularities in the counting process.
Speaking to the BBC via video call from an undisclosed location, Mondlane said he could not reveal his whereabouts for security reasons.
He disappeared from public view on October 20 – before the election results were announced – and accused police of threatening behavior, not long after two of his aides were shot dead.
At one point, Mondlane hid in South Africa, where he said he was the target of an assassination attempt.
However, Mondlane continues to rally his supporters through social media.
“What is most hurtful to me is that I cannot stand among the people on the streets, participate in their struggles and protests, and lead these demonstrations. This hurts me every day,” he said.
Mondlane said the police response to the demonstrations was “a serious violation of human rights.”
Rubber bullets have been fired at protesters in the capital Maputo [AFP]
As a result of the death toll from the demonstrations, morgues in the capital Maputo have become full.
A gravedigger in the city told the BBC that the number of funerals he has helped with has also soared.
“On normal days we carry out between six and eight funerals a day,” said Jorge Alfredo.
“But today, since the cemetery reopened after the demonstrations, we had a hard time because we had to process double the number of burials.”
Speaking to the BBC last month, Mozambique police commander Bernadino Raphael blamed Mondlane’s supporters for the deaths.
“They use children as shields for themselves while they stay behind,” he alleged.
The commander added that in many cases, police had no choice but to defend themselves against protesters who had unleashed violence, including killing six officers and looting and burning property and vehicles.
However, the demonstrators seem determined to continue.
Recently, they have responded to some of Mondlane’s more creative ideas for demonstrations, such as banging pots and pans indoors at the same time every night and parking their cars on the street to block traffic for several hours during the day.
The ruling party is feeling the pressure, Mondlane believes.
“Frelimo knows that if these protests continue, there is a great risk that the country will become unviable,” he said.
After the result was announced on October 24, Chapo was adamant that he and Frelimo had won in a free and fair contest, saying: “We are an organized party that prepares its victories.”
What if Frelimo doesn’t give in and instead chooses to continue with their five-year term? Mondlane believes that if the electoral process is reformed to make it more transparent, he will win the 2029 presidential election.
“Because the economic and social situation is so bad, it is impossible that this regime will manage to improve the situation in the next five years,” he said.
“I dare say that we will win without any doubt.”
More Mozambique stories from the BBC:
[Getty Images/BBC]
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfricaon Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at BBCAfrica
