Presidential candidate wants to “test the law of a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye”
Mozambican presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, self-proclaimed president-elect of the country, stated this Friday that, as a measure of “self-defense of the Mozambican people”, one police officer must be killed for every civilian killed by the authorities.
“The Mozambican people are being slaughtered, mistreated, shot. (…) In these 100 days, we will test what the law of retaliation is, what in the Bible was the law of ‘a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye”, said Mondlane during a live broadcast on his Facebook page, in which he announced 25 measures to be taken in the next 100 days by your self-proclaimed government.
“For each member of the population murdered by a member of the UIR (Rapid Intervention Unit), automatically pays in the same currency. This element of the UIR is also wiped out of existence, it goes to hell, that’s how we have to do it”, he continued, guaranteeing that he will also ask these police officers to “report their own colleagues”.
Mondlane promised that, if the 25 measures are not complied with, “we will resume street demonstrations and in a much more intense way”.
Among other measures, Mondlane demanded an end to what he considers “violence against the population” and “silent genocide”, accusing the Defense and Security Forces of kidnapping, murdering and burying people in “mass graves” because they are considered members of the opposition, your supporters.
Venâncio Mondlane ran for the position of President of the Republic in the general elections on October 9th, in which Daniel Chapo was declared the winner – having taken office as head of state on January 15th, a result that the opposition politician does not recognize.
Mondlane demands the “unconditional” release of more than 4,000 people detained during the post-election demonstrations in the country, as well as medical and medication treatment for those injured in these protests and the payment of compensation of at least 200 thousand meticais (3,000 euros) to the families who saw their family members killed during protests.
Another measure proposed by the politician is the extension of non-payment of tolls for another 100 days: “And the tolls that are on potholed roads and in poor condition must be removed and we will only pay again when the roads are rehabilitated”.
“Put an end once and for all to illegal charges in public service”, added the presidential candidate, also demanding exemption from Value Added Tax (VAT) on basic products.
Venâncio Mondlane also pointed out the reduction in electricity tariffs by 50% and the suspension of logging for export, also demanding from the new executive a financing line of 500 million dollars (485.5 million euros) to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) affected during demonstrations contesting the election results.
Since October 21, when the challenge to the process surrounding the general elections on October 9 began, the Decide electoral platform’s registry has recorded 633 people shot, in addition to 314 dead and at least 4,228 detained.
On December 23, Daniel Chapo, aged 48, was proclaimed by the Constitutional Council (CC) as the winner of the election for President of the Republic, with 65.17% of the votes, in the general elections, which included legislative and provincial assemblies, which Frelimo also won.
Daniel Chapo’s election has been contested in the streets since October, with pro-Mondlane protesters – who according to the CC only obtained 24% of the votes, but who claimed victory – demanding the “replacement of electoral truth”, with barricades, looting and clashes with the police.
