2023-10-27 13:26:05
This Friday, the Mozambican police fired several tear gas shots at thousands of people demonstrating in Maputo against the results of the local elections announced by the National Election Commission.
The protesters took part in a march called by the leader of the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO, the largest opposition party) to the Maputo municipality, Venâncio Mondlane, who claims to have won that election, on October 11, and tried to continue, on Avenida 24 de Julho, towards the Constitutional Council premises.
At that time, at around 11:30 am local time, the march was stopped by the deployment of several armored police vehicles and then the launch of tear gas, to which the protesters responded by throwing stones.
At least one person was injured, hit during the release of tear gas by the police, Lusa found.
On that central avenue in Maputo, traffic is now heavily restricted by the police and most businesses are closed.
The RENAMO candidate in Maputo, Venâncio Mondlane, appealed to the population to “stop everything” today, protesting against the “murder of democracy”, given the announcement of Frelimo’s electoral victory in practically all municipalities in the country.
“We have stopped all public and private activity [na sexta-feira]”, appealed Venâncio Mondlane, in a message released shortly after Carlos Matsinhe, president of the CNE, announced, late Thursday afternoon, the victory of the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) in 64 of the 65 municipalities in the municipal elections of October 11, including Maputo, confirming the results of the intermediate count, strongly contested by observers, civil society organizations and opposition parties.
Carlos Matsinhe, who read the minutes of the results from the capital, stated that eight members of that body voted in favor of the general count, five against and two abstained, including the president of the institution himself, according to Renamo.
Several courts across the country even annulled procedures, including three in Maputo, and ordered the electoral process to be repeated in recent days, but the results announced by the CNE remained practically unchanged compared to the intermediate count.
By LUSA
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