Good afternoon. What is opposition presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane going to do next? Everyday life is slowly returning to normal in Mozambique following the protests he orchestrated last week over the disputed election results, but Mondlane is not finished with his demonstrations, and has promised to announce a “fourth phase” of them today.
So far, the protests have caused businesses to be closed and schools to be empty. Markets have been deserted and civil servants have not gone to their ministry buildings. Police have, regrettably, shot repeatedly at demonstrators, killing several and wounding others. Tax revenue has undoubtedly been affected, at least for a few days. But none of this is in danger of causing the collapse of the government.
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On the other hand, the protests, whether they are right or wrong, have hurt ordinary people by preventing them from earning money and causing food shortages through the closure of the Ressano Garcia border crossing, which Mondlane did not call for but which was a by-product of violent suppression of the protests (see below). Anyone trying to open their business or sell goods on the streets or in a market risked being attacked during the periods of demonstrations. It is awkward for Mondlane that, while he presents himself as the champion of the Mozambican people, it is those people whom his campaign of demonstrations is mainly affecting. Indeed, he has already said that the next wave of protests will affect both ordinary people and the economy.
