The lawyer for Mozambique’s opposition leader, Venancio Mondlane, was shot dead alongside a senior party official, intensifying tensions as the country awaits contested election results. This incident highlights ongoing violence and allegations of electoral fraud under the long-ruling Frelimo party, which has faced critiques for suppressing dissent.
On Saturday, the opposition party PODEMOS reported the fatal shooting of Elvino Dias, a lawyer and advisor to presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, along with Paulo Guambe, a senior party official. The shooting occurred in Maputo as tension looms in Mozambique following contested election results that may challenge the ruling Frelimo party’s near half-century dominance. The assailants reportedly pursued Dias and Guambe in two vehicles, firing multiple shots at their car late on Friday night. This incident underscores the escalating violence and political strife in Mozambique, where observers have noted increasing allegations of electoral fraud and suppression of dissent against Frelimo, which has ruled since the country’s independence from Portugal in 1975. Elvino Dias was preparing to contest the election results at Mozambique’s Constitutional Council, while PODEMOS has called for a nationwide strike in response to perceived electoral injustices. Preliminary results indicate that Frelimo candidate Daniel Chapo is leading the presidential race, with the final results set to be announced next week. The Mozambican Bar Association denounced the killings as an assault on legal independence and democracy, urging for protests across the nation. In the days preceding the election, rights groups have criticized the government for clamping down on opposition and utilizing excessive force against peaceful protests, raising concerns over the country’s democratic integrity and security forces’ conduct.
Mozambique is a nation in southern Africa that has experienced ongoing political turmoil, particularly surrounding its electoral processes. The Frelimo party has maintained power since the country’s independence in 1975, often facing accusations of electoral misconduct. The emergence of opposition parties such as PODEMOS has heightened political tensions, especially in light of the recent presidential election. The contested electoral results, combined with alarming incidents of violence against opposition figures, reflect a precarious political environment and potential threats to democratic principles within the country.
The assassination of prominent opposition lawyer Elvino Dias and his colleague Paulo Guambe has heightened concerns regarding the safety of political figures and the integrity of Mozambique’s electoral process. As the nation awaits final election results, the prevailing atmosphere of fear and violence raises questions about the governmental response to dissent and the potential for further unrest in the coming days.
Original Source: www.france24.com
