Post-election violence and the reprimanding of journalists and human rights defenders continue to mark the current political scene in Mozambique. After countless popular demonstrations in favour of restoring electoral truth led by the candidate Venâncio Mondlane supported by the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (PODEMOS), on 23 December 2024 the Constitutional Council validated the final results of the 9 October general elections and proclaimed the FRELIMO-backed candidate, Daniel Chapo, as the winner of the presidency with 65.17%. The decision, which cannot be appealed, brought chaos to the country’s main streets, with reports of gunshot wounds and a trail of destruction that has yet to be calculated.
Venâncio Mondlane reacted to the proclamation of the results by Mozambique’s Constitutional Council on social media, warning that “at this serious moment in our lives, difficult days will come”. “This is a serious moment in our lives, either we organize our country now or we don’t do anything.”
Last Sunday, 9 January, Venâncio Mondlane announced his return to Mozambique, after having left the country since 21 October 2024, citing security issues such as harassment and threats when the first demonstrations were unleashed after the 9 October elections. Presidential candidate Mondlane, known as VM7, announced his return in the following terms: “They don’t need to persecute me anymore, they’re killing my brothers, they’re kidnapping mine“, said Venâncio in a live broadcast via Facebook platform, with the aim of presenting the phase of electoral contestation that he called “Spearhead“.
“If you want to assassinate me, assassinate me. If you want to arrest me, arrest me. I know that the popular fury that will occur in Mozambique is unrivalled in the history of Africa and Mozambique”, said Venâncio. Venâncio Mondlane’s return to the Mozambican political scene has been marked by debates and speculation that reflect the complexity of the current political context in the country.
What is the Spearhead phase?
According to Venâncio Mondlane, the so-called “spearhead” phase is a new stage in the electoral contest, which will consist of his arrival in Mozambique next Thursday, 9 January, at 08h05 at Mavalane International Airport in Maputo.
“The role I had to play outside of Mozambique, so that the demonstrations, the protests, could be organised and move forward, was organised and moved forward. I wasn’t out of Mozambique out of fear, if they’re killing our brothers, if they’re burning our brothers‘ shops, they’re burning petrol stations, warehouses and factories claiming that they’re protesters while they’re not, to create hatred between brothers… then if it’s for me, on Venâncio’s behalf, then Venâncio will be in Maputo on Thursday… That’s Ponta de lança,” he said.
Venâncio called on the population to welcome him at the airport, including the President of the Republic and the Attorney General.
A cloud of uncertainty
While some see his return as a hope for political renewal, others question his ability to bring about concrete changes in the current scenario. Within the political class, both allies and opponents are closely monitoring Mondlane’s next steps, paying attention to the implications of his actions and speeches. Many internet users and citizens see the situation as uncertain for the future of the country, since this announcement of Venâncio’s return is launched in a peculiar context marked by the following events:
- In a context in which the Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened several criminal cases against candidate Venâncio, as the moral author of the demonstrations that caused multiple damages to public property;
- This coincides with the expected swearing-in ceremony of the candidate declared the winner, Daniel Francisco Chapo. This scenario is linked to Venancio’s promise to take office on 15 January;
- Finally, in a context in which a large part of the population, mainly young people, unconditionally supports the Presidential candidate, Venâncio Mondlane. It should be noted that all the demonstrations, protests and stoppages were launched under Venâncio’s guidance and were fully complied with by the population.
In this sense, it is not yet clear whether Venâncio Mondlane’s return will stop or worsen the demonstrations and the unstable situation in the country. Rather, it has raised a cloud of uncertainty and concern. In the end, the hope is that amid so much uncertainty, the political will emerge to put an end to this great phenomenon so that the country can return to normality.
