This week, the complete results of Mozambique’s national election on October 9 are anticipated.
After a contentious election on Saturday, demonstrators in the city Maputo, Mozambique, gathered near the spot where two opposition party leaders were shot dead. Mozambiquean police responded with tear gas and live ammunition.
While dispersing the gathering on Monday, a Reuters witness observed many police officers brandishing pistols.
The director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Mozambique, Adriano Nuvunga, reported that a security guard and two journalists were shot at but not gravely hurt.
An quick response was received from a police spokesperson regarding comments.
This week will see the full results of Mozambique’s national election on October 9, however preliminary results indicate that Frelimo, the ruling party, is projected to win again. The poll, according to opposition candidates, was rigged.
Alleged to have committed electoral fraud
Since taking power in 1975, the country in southern Africa has been ruled by Frelimo, which dismisses accusations of electoral fraud made by civil society, opposition leaders, and election monitors.
Regarding allegations of fraud, the electoral commission of Mozambique has refrained from commenting.
Observers stationed in the US claimed that the poll did not adhere to international norms for democratic elections, citing allegations of voter fraud, intimidation, and other problems.
“Because the police are shooting at us, this is becoming a violent protest.” Protester Vladimir Manhique, a 32-year-old auto technician, stated, “We are here to demand that the truth about the election is upheld.”
This serves as a means of expressing that enough is enough. “This regime must be overthrown,” he declared.
The demonstration drew several hundred participants, some of whom threw rocks and burned red Frelimo flags in the roadway.
In the past, notably last year, Mozambican police have used live fire during political demonstrations, justifying their use of force as a necessary measure to quell unrest.
Following the battles with police, independent presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane declared that Monday’s nationwide strike had been well-observed and advised the demonstrators to return home.
Maputo’s central streets were silent, and many businesses were shuttered.
