Luisa Nhantumbo / Lusa
Venâncio Mondlane speaks in Maputo
“Each element of the population murdered by a police officer automatically pays in the same coin”, said Mondlane, invoking the “Law of Talion [do Antigo Testamento]. A tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye. Take it, give it here.”
Former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane demanded this Friday 25 measures to the Mozambican authorities for the next three months, threatening to resume demonstrations and street protests “in a more intense way” if they are not implemented.
“If these measures are not implemented, if these measures are not complied with, at any time, before the 100 days, we will resume street demonstrations and in a much more intense way”, declared Venâncio Mondlane, when speaking through his official account on the social network Facebook.
The 25 measures
Among the measures for the first 100 days, Mondlane required the 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 were considered members of the opposition, their supporters.
And he suggested: “each element of the population murdered by an element of the UIR [Unidade de Intervenção Rápida da Polícia] automatically pays with the same coin”, said Mondlane, invoking the “Law of Talion [do Antigo Testamento]. A tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye. Take it, give it here.”
Mondlane demands the “unconditional” release of more than 4,000 people detained during post-election demonstrations in the country, as well as the medical treatment for the injured in these protests and the payment of a compensation of at least 200 thousand meticais (3,000 euros) to families who saw their family members killed during protests.
Another measure put forward by the politician is the extension of the non-payment of tolls for another 100 days: “and the tolls that are on the 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 of electricity tariff 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-sized Enterprises (SMEs) affected during the demonstrations contesting the electoral results .
Since October 21st, when the challenge to the process surrounding the October 9th general elections began, the registration of the Decide electoral platform counts 633 people shotin addition to 314 dead and at least 4,228 detained.
Venâncio Mondlane ran for the position of President of the Republic in the general elections on October 9, in which Daniel Chapo was declared the winner, having taken office as head of state on January 15, a result that the opposition politician does not recognize.
On December 23, Daniel was elected 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.
