by Nurat Uthman
Mozambique’s opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, whose whereabouts were unknown Wednesday, has called for a week-long strike to protest the result of a presidential election.
Tensions have simmered in the southern African nation where the ruling Frelimo party, in power for 49 years, won an October 9 vote. Opposition parties and election observers have denounced irregularities in the vote.
Mondlane, 50, who is backed by the small Podemos party and claimed victory shortly after the vote, has called for a nationwide strike from October 31 to November 7.
“We’re going to start a public demonstration, a week-long strike,” he said in a Facebook discussion on Tuesday.
He also said he had to “cross four borders to do this live”, with speculation mounting about his whereabouts.
Police said they were investigating Mondlane after he staged protests last week, which could explain his possible departure from the country.
“The Mozambique Republic Police (PRM) has already opened a criminal case against Venancio Mondlane and his supporters for the crimes of arson and possession of a firearm,” spokesperson Orlando Mudumane told reporters.
Mondlane has widely used social media platforms to communicate with supporters, though the strategy has been complicated by internet disruptions in the country.
According to the electoral commission, Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo, 47, won the presidential race with 71 percent of votes while Mondlane got 20 percent.
Podemos, which overshadowed the main opposition party Renamo, on Monday seized the country’s Constitutional Court asking for a vote recount.
According to the Public Integrity Center (CIP) advocacy group, opposition parties are discussing proposing a national unity government.
