Independent presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane issued a stern warning on Friday, vowing to call for a nationwide strike that would bring Mozambique to a standstill if the ruling Frelimo party is declared victorious in the recent presidential election.
Speaking to the press, Mondlane claimed that based on data collected by his delegates at polling stations, he is leading the race following Wednesday’s election. The country awaits the preliminary results, set to be released on Saturday, with full official results expected within 15 days.
Frelimo, the political party that has ruled Mozambique since its independence in 1975, has often faced accusations of election rigging, although it consistently denies the claims.
The party’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, is widely expected to succeed President Filipe Nyusi, who is stepping down after his term.
Mondlane, a popular figure among Mozambique’s discontented youth, is seen by many analysts as the most significant challenger to Frelimo in recent years.
While acknowledging the high risk of violence surrounding the election results, he emphasized that he would pursue peaceful means to contest a Frelimo win, including legal action and peaceful demonstrations.
“We will not accept the results if Frelimo is declared the winner,” Mondlane said. “We will mobilize the population and initiate an economic shutdown— a total halt across the country.”
Although he admitted to lacking concrete evidence of fraud, Mondlane pointed out reports from civil society groups alleging irregularities, such as election observers being barred from witnessing the preliminary vote count.
Mozambique has a recent history of unrest. Isolated protests erupted last year after Frelimo’s victory in municipal elections, with authorities forcefully suppressing them. Despite these tensions, the capital city, Maputo, remained peaceful on Friday, with armed police deployed along key roads.
Mondlane also outlined key elements of his economic and peace agenda. If elected, he promised to reform tax policies to redirect more revenue from multinational companies, like ExxonMobil, toward local development. Additionally, he pledged increased financial support for young entrepreneurs.
ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies are currently developing significant gas projects in northern Mozambique, which have been stalled due to a violent Islamist insurgency that has displaced thousands. Mondlane advocated for engaging the insurgents in dialogue and prioritizing development in the troubled Cabo Delgado province, which he said has long been marginalized.
“It’s impossible to achieve peace in Cabo Delgado while excluding the insurgents,” Mondlane stressed.
