By Sheila Nhancale
Maputo (MOZTIMES) - Opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane announced a new staged post-election protest to take place over three days, from Wednesday to Friday, targeting Mozambique's main ports and development corridors.
The protests could severely disrupt international trade with the landlocked countries in the region, including Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, and even South Africa, which rely on the ports of Beira, Nacala, and Maputo for imports and exports.
The new stage of protests announced this Monday night is part of a challenge to the results of last month's elections. The ruling Frelimo party was declared the winner amid strong allegations of fraud by national and international observers grpups.
“We are asking the truckers to suspend all activity. We're not going to force anyone; it's a request to show that they're living a miserable life”, Mondlane said in a live broadcast watched by around a hundred thousand people on his Facebook account.
By focusing the popular protests on the logistics corridors, Mondlane said intends to harm the businesses of the political and economic elites that are backing the ruling Frelimo. It is estimated that the demonstrations in Mozambique over the past ten days have caused economic losses of around US$360 million.
The government may use security forces to escort vehicles travelling between the ports and neighbouring countries during the days of demonstrations. (SN)
