In a strategy designed to dissuade street demonstrations protesting and contesting the results of the October 9 vote, the Commander General of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM), Bernardino Rafael, invited the leadership of the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (PODEMOS), the political entity that supported the presidential candidacy of Venâncio Mondlane, to a conversation at the same table on Thursday morning..

According to a media FaxAfter a long initial speech in which Bernardino Rafael condemned, criticized and called for the demonstrations to be stopped and, if they were to take place, for them to be peaceful, the president of PODEMOS, Albino Forquilha, was given the floor. Even though he used very diplomatic language of conciliation and acceptance, he did not fail to reiterate the essence of the struggle that the party, its presidential candidate and the entire opposition are carrying out.

He reiterated that the underlying issue is the fight for justice. In this specific case, for electoral justice, which is said to have been called into question by the results that have been released by the electoral bodies, whose composition is dominated by the party in power, Frelimo. In this regard, he reiterated that all the police can ask of PODEMOS and its members, sympathizers and the entire population. But there is one thing that the police must not ask. To stop fighting.

"PODEMOS doesn't encourage any violence, but it does encourage fighting for justice. That's right. Fighting for justice. This is the focus of the process. We hope that the Constitutional Council (CC) will make a fair decision and not cover up injustices," explained Albino Forquilha, stressing that "it would be unfair to tell the Mozambican people that they cannot demonstrate in the face of injustices. That would also violate the Constitution of the Republic. If we're unhappy, we have to demonstrate, but let's not do it violently".

For most of his speech, Albino Forquilha reiterated the idea of peaceful demonstrations until what he considers "electoral truth" is restored, in this case by the Constitutional Council.

Forquilha took several stories from the past to exemplify the need for a permanent struggle whenever someone feels the signs of injustice. For him, even the Mueda massacre in 1960 took place because the population had gone to ask for justice, but the colonial system didn't listen, which is why it decided to slaughter the defenseless civilian population.

However, after that episode, the Mozambicans didn't stop fighting, hence the start of the general armed insurrection in 1964, which led to Mozambique and the Mozambicans achieving independence in 1975.For a long time, he recalled, the Frelimo guerrillas were called vandals and terrorists, but they didn't give up fighting in search of justice.

Placing himself in the position of interviewer and looking for answers that could devalue the meaning of demonstrating for seven long, uninterrupted days, Bernardino Rafael wanted to know from Albino Forquilha if people could go to work.

Albino Forquilha responded positively to the question and explained that the national economy as a whole cannot be paralyzed, given the need for everyone to produce bread for their families on a daily basis. However, he pointed out that this does not prevent or mean that the demonstrations and marches will stop.

The fight, he said, is aimed at safeguarding and restoring electoral justice. Until this is achieved, the marches and street demonstrations must continue, as was agreed at the joint session the previous day, which defined a common and joint opposition front against the election results that gave Frelimo and its presidential candidate, Daniel Chapo, a landslide victory.

Albino Forquilha reiterated the idea that between him, PODEMOS and the presidential candidate, Venâncio Mondlane, there is no lack of agreement on the lines of struggle.

(Photo DR)