Venâncio Mondlane Faces Travel and Residency Restrictions

- The opposition Leader must inform the authorities of his residence and any travel abroad

- Violation of these measures may lead to the imposition of a stricter measure, including preventive detention

By Noémia Mendes and Sheila Nhancale

Maputo (MOZTIMES) – Former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane appeared before the Public Prosecutor this Tuesday over alleged crimes linked to the post-election protests that have rocked the country since last October, resulting in more than 350 deaths.

After nine hours of questioning at the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), the opposition leader was released but remains under a Term of Identity and Residence (TIR), a coercive measure that restricts his movements, preventing him, for instance, from changing his residence or leaving the country without prior notification to the authorities.

Speaking to journalists who had been waiting outside the PGR building since the morning, Mondlane appeared in good spirits and notably unconcerned about the coercive measure imposed on him.

“Unfortunately, I cannot say what crime I have been accused of. We spent all these hours here, and they still couldn’t inform me of the charges against me,” he said, smiling at journalists. “They just asked a barrage of questions to justify the lengthy interrogation’, he added.

Mondlane said the questions he was asked were about the protests, incitement to violence, economic damage, and all sorts of disturbances caused by the demonstrations. “I answered all these questions without knowing exactly what crime I am being accused of,” he repeated.

However, Mondlane explained that he has been subjected to restrictions on his freedoms, particularly regarding his movements. “This means that I cannot travel without notifying the Prosecutor’s Office, and I cannot stay away from my own home for more than five days,” he said.

Violation of this coercive measure may result in the imposition of a harsher penalty, including preventive detention.

Since returning to Mozambique on 9 January after spending about three months in self-imposed exile, Mondlane has not stayed at his usual residence. As a security measure, he spent part of the time in a hotel in the capital, Maputo, before moving to a private residence that was not publicly known. Now, he will have to inform the authorities of his place of residence, facilitating the monitoring of his movements.

Regarding travel abroad, Mondlane reiterated that he has no intention of leaving the country but instead wishes to remain in Mozambique to fight for justice alongside his supporters.

“One of the reasons I returned to Mozambique is because a political genocide is taking place. My collaborators are being murdered and thrown into mass graves, and I decided to stay here close to them,” Mondlane said on Monday upon arriving in Maputo from Gaborone, Botswana.

The opposition leader cited the recent killings of two young supporters in the Massinga district as an example of what he describes as executions carried out by government agents. Mondlane has already submitted a complaint to the Attorney General’s Office listing 398 names of victims of shootings, torture, and alleged extrajudicial killings by the police. The Public Prosecutor has not yet commented on the matter.

Mondlane said that the hearing was “cordial,” that he answered the questions, but that he could not clearly understand the basis of the charges, as the information was not presented to him in detail.

During the nine hours he was being questioned, dozens of his supporters remained outside the PGR, chanting slogans of support such as “anamalala” , which means “it’s over” in Macua, the most widely spoken language in Mozambique. The police attempted to disperse the demonstrators, this time without excessive use of force, but were unsuccessful. (NM/SN)

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