By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, is currently under heavy security deployment and remains tense following the return of opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, who has vowed to inaugurate himself as President.
He has been in exile since the disputed October polls, which sparked deadly protests.
Mondlane, who landed at the main airport in Maputo on Thursday morning, was received by thousands of supporters.
He is returning ahead of the 15th January inauguration of the president-elect, Daniel Chapo, of the governing Frelimo party, who was declared the winner of the October presidential election—a victory that was also confirmed by the constitutional court.
Mondlane, who has repeatedly claimed that he won the election, said in a Facebook live broadcast that he was coming back to be closer to the protest movement of his loyalists, which has led to weeks of nationwide demonstrations.
Dozens of people have also been killed, with properties destroyed, since the start of the protests, which threaten the country’s stability.
Video footage shows that upon arrival at the airport building, Mondlane knelt on the ground with a Bible in his hand as he was cheered by supporters.
He began to pray and swore to serve the people of Mozambique as the president elected by the people and not by a court.
In his first comments, Mondlane said he was ready to talk about how to resolve the tension over the disputed poll, which he claims was stolen from him.
“I’m here in the flesh to say that if you want to negotiate… I’m here,” he said.
Mondlane has been rallying support from exile through broadcasts on Facebook, but over the weekend, he announced his decision to return, saying, “They don’t need to chase me anymore.”
In a defiant message, he said: “If they want, they can kill me, but the fight will continue.”
Ahead of his landing, the airport was heavily guarded, with police officers trying to prevent Mondlane’s supporters from gaining entry.
Roads leading to the airport were blocked, with security forces restricting access to people unless they had a ticket for a flight.
Tear gas was fired on crowds in the area, and snipers were positioned on nearby buildings, according to a Reuters report.
Mondlane said his return was “a unilateral decision” that did not result from any political agreement.
Since the October election, waves of protests have left more than 270 people, including protesters, children, and members of the security forces, dead, rights groups say.
