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Venâncio Mondlane

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Venâncio António Bila Mondlane (born 17 January 1974) is a Mozambican engineer and politician. He ran for mayor of Maputo City as a member of the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) party in the 2013 local elections, and again in the 2023 elections as a member of the primary opposition RENAMO party. In the 2024 presidential election, Mondlane ran for President of Mozambique as a member of the PODEMOS party. He has recently become a major opposition figure against FRELIMO and their newly-elected leader Daniel Chapo, with Mondlane having gained considerable popularity among young people in Mozambique.[1][2]

Venâncio Mondlane
Personal details
Born (1974-01-17) 17 January 1974 (age 50)
Lichinga, Mozambique
Political partyPODEMOS
EducationEduardo Mondlane University
OccupationEngineer, banker, political candidate

Early life and education

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Mondlane was born on 17 January 1974 in Lichinga, Niassa Province, Mozambique.[3] He earned a degree in forest engineering from Eduardo Mondlane University.[4]

Political career

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Venâncio Mondlane ran for mayor of Maputo in 2013 as a member of opposition party MDM, narrowly losing to FRELIMO candidate David Simango.[5] Mondlane later changed his party affiliation to RENAMO, for whom he ran for mayor of Maputo in 2023. He lost the 2023 election to Rasaque Manhique, though the election was marred by allegations of fraud.[6][7]

In 2024, Mondlane announced his desire to run for president of Mozambique as the candidate for RENAMO.[8] After RENAMO renominated Ossufo Momade as their presidential candidate,[9] Mondlane later announced his intention to run as an independent in the October 2024 elections.[10] He first affiliated himself with the Democratic Alliance Coalition (CAD) party, but the party was barred from running by the country's National Elections Commission and by the Constitutional Council, stating that they had failed to notify them of structural changes to the party. Mondlane heavily criticised the decision, asserting that the decision was the result of collaboration between the major parties and the government institutions.[11]

He later joined the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (PODEMOS).[12] He ran with the slogan "Save Mozambique - This Country is Ours".[13][14][15] The current president of PODEMOS, Albino Forquilha, has also said that he would allow for the possibility of Mondlane becoming the party leader in the future.[16]

Mondlane's platform included, among other proposals, reforming tax policies to channel revenues from multinational companies to foster local development, expanding financing options for young entrepreneurs, and to reform Mozambique's public health system. He also promised to negotiate with insurgent leaders in the northern Cabo Delgado Province, which has been the site of an Islamist insurgency since 2017, as well as to incentivise development in the province.[1][17]

After the election 9 October 2024, initial results released by the government showed ruling party FRELIMO in the lead, though with allegations of fraud from international observers.[18]

Events post-2024 election

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See also: 2024 Mozambican general election

While counting was underway on 11 October, Mondlane threatened to launch a nationwide strike on 21 October if FRELIMO declared victory.[19][20] That same day, observers from the European Union and the European Parliament demanded that central election authorities release all voting details from all voting places. Despite having the data, the central election authorities have refused to do so.[21] The EU observers later said that there had been "irregularities during counting and unjustified alteration of election results at polling station and district level".[22] Mondlane later set the strike to begin on 21 October. On 16 October, four people were arrested during a march led by Mondlane in Nampula.[18] Observers from the US-based International Republican Institute also noted instances of voter intimidation, vote-buying and inflated voter rolls in FRELIMO strongholds.[23]

On 16 October the Attorney General of Mozambique summoned Mondlane for violating the Mozambican Constitution, arguing that Mondlane and his supporters performed "electoral offences, irregularities, common crimes and the violation[s] of ethical-electoral norms." Mondlane had claimed victory which the Attorney General classified as "incite[ing] violence, [and] public disorder". Mondlane is also publishing results from his parallel vote count which the attorney general classified as "behavior that violates ethical and electoral principles and norms."[24]

On 17 October Angolan writer José Eduardo Agualusa criticized Mondlane for "an attitude of little democratic maturity" and that Mondlane was trying to "subvert the constitution." Agualusa also called on the ruling government to hold Mondlane "accountable for those statements" and that his strong performance, even though he did not win, was “the great revolution” of the current age and as such he needs to be more responsible. Agualusa also said that "Renamo, in fact, is the big loser in this process."[25]

On 18 October, Elvino Dias, a lawyer working for PODEMOS and one of Mondlane's advisors, was shot dead in his car along with the party's spokesperson, Paulo Guambe, by unidentified attackers in Maputo.[26] At the time of his death, Dias was preparing to submit a case to the constitutional court contesting the result. Mondlane accused the security forces of responsibility, while the EU, the African Union, the United States and Portugal condemned the killings.[22] On 21 October, police fired tear gas at Mondlane while he was giving out interviews at the site of Dias and Guambe's murders. Mondlane said that police tried to prevent him from going outside to participate in protests. Protests also broke out in Maputo, Beira, Nampula and Gaza Province that same day as part of the strike called on by Mondlane, resulting in the arrest of six people and injuries to 16 people including two journalists.[27][28][23]

Mondlane stated in a live-stream that the election results of 71% for Chapo were "totally absurd" and that "The revolution has arrived... The time has come."[29] During these riots Mozambican security forces killed at least 11 protesters and used live ammunition and tear gas to clear crowds which was met with heavy criticism from Human Rights Watch. Additionally, another 50 where injured and over 400 protesters were arrested in a two day period from 24 to 25 October.[30]

On 27 October PODEMOS formally filed an appeal with the Constitutional Council against the results.[31][32] On 28 October Mondlane called for the formation of a rival "Government of National Unity" consisting of all opposition parties to form a united front against FRELIMO.[33]

On 29 October Mondlane called for a week-long strike, and for a 4-million strong march on Maputo on 7 November to overwhelm Mozambican authorities with the sheer size of a protest.[34]

References

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  1. ^ a b Peyton, Nellie; Mucari, Manuel (11 October 2024). "Independent candidate in Mozambique poll threatens nationwide strike if ruling party wins". Reuters. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  2. ^ Eligon, John; Cebola, Tavares (9 October 2024). "Mozambique's 2024 National Elections: What to Know". The New York Times Company. New York Times. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Venâncio António Bila Mondlane". Africa-Confidential.com. Africa Confidential. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Venâncio Mondlane submete sua candidatura para o cargo de Presidente da República na quinta-feira". INTEGRITY-MOÇAMBIQUE. Integrity Magazine. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Venâncio Mondlane quits MDM ahead of Maputo municipal election". Zitamar Ltd. Zitamar News. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Renamo Grows Up". Zitamar Ltd. Zitamar News. 28 November 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  7. ^ "2023 Municipal elections results Did Renamo win 0, 4, or 7 municipalities?" (PDF). CIP eleições. Centro de Integridade Pública. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  8. ^ da Silva, Romeu. "Mondlane firme na sua vontade de ser presidente da RENAMO". dw.com. Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Mozambique: Ossufo Momade re-elected president of Renamo". Club of Mozambique. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Moçambique: Venâncio Mondlane deixa Renamo e Parlamento e prepara candidatura à Presidência". Voice of America. VOA Portuguese. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  11. ^ Fauvet, Paul (5 August 2024). ""I am the candidate of the people", Claims Venâncio Mondlane". Agência de Informação de Moçambique. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Wild card Mondlane tests ruling party's election tactics". Africa Confidential. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  13. ^ Tembe, Jose; Henshall, Angela (5 October 2024). "Moçambique: Venâncio Mondlane deixa Renamo e Parlamento e prepara candidatura à Presidência". BBC. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Venâncio Mondlane não reconhece possível vitória de Daniel Chapo". RFI (in Portuguese). 14 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  15. ^ "O país acorda em suspense: Quem irá liderar Moçambique?". dw.com (in Portuguese). 10 October 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  16. ^ SAPO. "Moçambique. Podemos admite que Venâncio Mondlane se possa tornar líder do partido". SAPO 24 (in Portuguese). Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Mozambique Elections: Venâncio Mondlane promises to introduce reforms in health". Club of Mozambique, by MozParks. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Long-ruling party leads in Mozambique's election as opposition candidate calls for strikes". AP News. AP News. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Frelimo's candidate wins in Maputo amid ongoing vote count". Africanews. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  20. ^ Mucari, Manuel; Sibeko, Siphiwe; Sishi, Siyabonga; Peyton, Nellie (21 October 2024). "Mozambique police clash with opposition protesters after disputed election". Reuters. Reuters. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  21. ^ "Mozambique: CNE Could Publish Individual Polling Station Results Now, And Satisfy EU Demand". allAfrica. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  22. ^ a b "EU observers say 'unjustified alteration' of Mozambique election results". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  23. ^ a b "Mozambique election results being doctored – EU". BBC. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Mozambique Elections: Attorney-General's Office summons Venâncio Mondlane – AIM". clubofmozambique.com. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Mozambique Elections: Agualusa criticises Venâncio Mondlane's "lack of democratic maturity"". clubofmozambique.com. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Mozambique rocked by brutal killings of 2 prominent opposition figures soon after disputed election". Associated Press. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Police in Mozambique fire tear gas at opposition politician as post-election tensions soar". Associated Press. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  28. ^ "Police in Mozambique disperse opposition protest after disputed election". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 22 October 2024.
  29. ^ Hill, Matthew; Nhamirre, Borges. "Mozambique on Edge After Election Results Ignite Fresh Riots". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  30. ^ "Mozambique: Post-Election Protests Violently Repressed". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  31. ^ "Mozambique's Opposition Party Demands Recount Amid Contested Election Results". centralnews.co.za. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  32. ^ "Mozambique Elections: Podemos files appeal to Constitutional Council against election results". clubofmozambique. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  33. ^ "Mozambique Elections: Mondlane calls for 'government of national unity', a united front of the opposition". clubofmozambique. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  34. ^ "Mozambique Elections: Mondlane calls for week-long strike and a national march to Maputo". clubofmozambique. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
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