Government Warns that it Will put Troops in the Streets to Contain the Rise in Post-Election Violence

- Minister of Defence warns that acts are being prepared to take power by unconstitutional means and the Defence and Security Forces will defend the country's sovereignty

- Opposition leader re-affirms march on the capital, Maputo, next Thursday, while the international community calls for respect for life

By Noémia Mendes

Maputo (MOZTIMES) – Defence Minister Cristóvão Chume told journalists in Maputo on Tuesday that the Mozambican government will station troops to contain the rise of post-election violence in the streets.

The mass demonstrations against the election results were called by the opposition presidential candidate, Venâncio Mondlane, who alleges that election fraud occurred which benefitted the candidate of the ruling Frelimo Party. The demonstrations were intended as peaceful, but soon degenerated into police violence which has caused dozens of deaths.

The majority of the deaths are demonstrators hit by bullets fired by the police. There are also cases of children shot by the police and at least one police agent was stoned to death by an angry crowd in Matola municipality, on the outskirts of Maputo. The Defence Minister confirmed the killing of the police agent.

Chume told journalists that currently the troops are on the streets to help the police maintain order, and they are performing civic tasks such as assisting the injured, and cleaning the streets, but "if the rise in violence continues, the armed forces will have to protect the interests of the State".

"The Defence and Security Forces have the mission and the mandate to protect our sovereignty and the security of the country. They will act against any action that is an attack against our territorial integrity", declared Chume. He added that preparations are under way to change political power through unconstitutional means.

The Defence Minister also stated that currently there are no foreign forces helping Mozambique to contain the mass revolts. He referred specifically to the Rwandan forces stationed to fight against terrorism in the northern province of Cabo Delgado, rich in natural gas, and said they have not been sent to Maputo to fight the demonstrators.

There are many rumours, notably on social media, that Rwandan forces have ben transferred to Maputo. Venancio Mondlane made the accusation on three consecutive days, accusing the European Union of financing the move. The claim was denied, first by the Rwandan government, then by the EU, and now by the Mozambican government.

Chume spoke of the need for dialogue between political parties to solve the conflict, because "the violent demonstrations are sowing hatred between brothers. They are destroying infrastructures and are showing how much we are divided".

However, on Tuesday morning, President Filipe Nyusi, speaking at a meeting with officials of the justice sector, said the conditions do not exist for a dialogue. He said "for dialogue to take place, trust must be created. You don't enter into dialogue with somebody you don't trust". The Prsident insisted on the need to wait for the Constitutional Council to decide on the election results.

The law gives the Constitutional Council no deadline to validate and declare the election results, but past practice suggests that the decision is taken betwen 45 days and two months after polling day. This would push the decision to late November or early December.

Shortly after Chume's speech, the opposition presidential candidate, Venâncio Mondlane, once again addressed tens of thousands of his followers on Facebook, speaking from his hideout. This is in an undisclosed location, but is almost certainly in South Africa. He reaffirmed that on Thursday millions of people should march on Maputo to take power.

Mondlane claimed that more than a million people have already arrived in the capital from other provinces to march upon Maputo. But nobody else has noticed this massive population movement, and the total adult population of the capital, according to projections from the 2017 census, is only 735,000.

Mondlane urged the troops and police not to open fire against the marchers and threatened that, if they did so, they would be smashed by the demonstrators.

From the initial demand of a march against electon fraud, Mondlane now says the march is also against corruption, organised crime, poverty, and unemployment, a speech that sounds attractive to the youths who are the grret majority of the Mozambican population.

Maputo, the epicentre of the demonstrations, has been largely paralysed since last Friday, with only limited operations of both public and private services. On Tuesday night, residents of urban neighbourhoods previously not much affected by the demonstrations, began a new form of protest, banging on saucepans from the verandas of their apartments, which caused an enormous racket in that part of the city.

The situation seems out of control and it is feared that there might be a bloodbath on Thursday, if the public decides to advance with the march on Maputo, and the Defence and Security Forces respond with violence.

On Monday, Foreign Minister Verónica Macamo called on the international community to help contain the mass demonstrations in Mozambique. "We are asking our cooperation partners, as friends of Mozambique and of the Mozambicans, to help us re-establish calm, serenity and stability", said Macamo during a meeting with diplomats accredited in Maputo.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the ambassadors and high commissioners of Canada, Norway. Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States called on all those involved to contain their emotions, and respect the rule of law and human life. (NM)

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