By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Mozambique’s president-elect, Daniel Chapo, has called for “non-violence” and “unity” in response to the deadly demonstrations that erupted in the country’s capital, Maputo, following the victory of his party, Frelimo, in the presidential election, which was equally upheld by the constitutional court.
At least 134 people have been killed in the unrest, local NGO Plataforma Decide stated, taking the overall death toll since the elections to 261.
Chapo, who on Friday said he “regretted” the violence, promised that after his inauguration in mid-January, he would be “the president of all” in the southern African country, despite the rigging claims by the opposition, which has refused to accept the outcome of the elections.
The country’s highest court on Monday ruled that Chapo’s party, Frelimo, which has been in power for 50 years, won the 9 October presidential poll.
This immediately triggered protests that have lasted for four days, with streets blocked, shops and businesses looted, while others were set on fire.
Chapo, who spoke for the first time since the court’s decision, said the worst-affected cities in the ongoing protests were the capital, Maputo, neighbouring Matola, the central city of Beira, and Nampula in the north.
“These acts only contribute to the decline of the country and the increase in the number of Mozambicans who are heading towards unemployment and poverty,” Chapo, a former provincial governor, stated.
Chapo thanked citizens who helped remove makeshift barricades to try to get life back to normal and praised security forces for “mitigating the harmful effects of political polarisation”.
Several police officers died during the clashes, he added.
He promised to turn around the country’s economy and to do “everything to renew” Mozambique.
The opposition leader, Venâncio Mondlane, has vowed not to accept defeat, instead saying that he will go ahead and declare himself the country’s leader on 15 January.
Mondlane, who has repeatedly rejected the outcome of the presidential poll, has called on his supporters to march in demonstration of their grievances.
The electoral commission declared Chapo the winner of the October election with 71% of the vote to Mondlane’s 20%.
The constitutional court, in its ruling on Monday, affirmed Chapo’s victory but revised the percentage of his win. It gave the Frelimo candidate 65% and Mondlane 24%.
