Thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities across Mozambique yesterday following a call for a major demonstration by the opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, supported by the Podemos party. Mondlane claims to have won the 9 October presidential election and told supporters to march on 7 November in what he dubbed the “Day of Liberation.”
In the capital Maputo, thousands began marching in the early hours of the morning from the suburbs to the city centre, but were met by heavily armed police and the army on the main intersections and roads, preventing them from moving forward. Security forces had started blocking access to the main avenues in Maputo the previous night.
In the Polana Caniço neighbourhood of Maputo, protesters attempted to pass through the police armoured car blockade on Vladimir Lenine Avenue, prompting police to fire tear gas. A group of protesters tried to push a large garbage container towards the police, resulting in the police firing several more rounds of tear gas.
In between moments of stalemate between demonstrators and the police, a young protester was injured and received assistance from fellow protesters. There are no official counts for dead or injured people yet from yesterday's protests, but the NGO the Centre for Democracy and Development reported at least two were killed. A Zitamar reporter saw ambulances rushing from a hospital in the Maxaquene suburb of Maputo after clashes.
Amid growing tensions, protesters started throwing rocks and molotov cocktails at the police, with at least one bottle hitting a police car, inflicting some minor damage.
Elsewhere in the city of Maputo, besides confrontations with police, there were reports on social media of looting, with images showing people carrying bags and boxes from shops.
In the cities of Quelimane, in Zambézia province, and Pemba, in Cabo Delgado province, protests were reportedly peaceful and there were no major incidents. In Nampula province, a Frelimo office was set on fire by unknown attackers, according to website Ikweli. Overall, the city was calm, albeit with a heavy police presence.
Across the country, businesses and public institutions were mostly closed and public transport was paralysed.
As in previous days of demonstrations in Maputo, police deployed a light observation plane and helicopters. In Maxaquene and Polana Caniço, tear gas was launched from the helicopters on crowds and homes.
In Polana Caniço, the police fired tear gas at point blank range at a group of kneeling protesters holding up cardboard signs with slogans and flags, a video of which was later widely circulated on social media.
On Vladimir Lenine and Joaquim Chissano avenues, the security forces were quick to remove barricades and tyres set up by protesters. There were no reports of action from the Mozambican army deployed on the streets of Maputo. Military cars were seen circulating in the city, but they were mostly positioned at critical intersections behind police forces, which were more directly involved in exchanges with protesters.
Mondlane did not join protesters in Maputo due to security reasons, he said. In his Facebook live stream event yesterday, Mondlane urged his supporters to continue the demonstrations until “electoral justice is served.”
It is unclear how protests will continue in the coming days.
Photos: Faizal Chauque / Zitamar News
