The President of the Supreme Court, Adelino Muchanga, assured today that the national courts have no cases against independent presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane.

"There are cases being investigated, but they are not in court," he said, stressing that they will only be able to enter court once the investigation phase is over.

He explained that it is the Public Prosecutor's Office that carries out the investigation, and noted that it is only after that stage that "the indictment is formulated, if appropriate".

Venâncio Mondlane, supported by the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos), has called for demonstrations to restore electoral truth. The demonstrations, which have been raging since October 21, have resulted in more than a hundred deaths, including defenseless civilians and armed police, thousands of injuries, vandalization and looting of public and private property, as well as internet restrictions.

The Police of the Republic of Mozambique have opened criminal proceedings against the candidate and Podemos and accuse them of inciting violence. The Public Prosecutor's Office is demanding the payment of 32 million meticais in compensation to the candidate and Podemos. The Maputo City Judicial Court has requested that all of Venâncio Mondlane's bank accounts domiciled in the country be blocked.

Regarding the blocking of accounts, Muchanga said that, if it is in the interests of the injured party, the ideal is to use legal procedures to have them released.

"Anyone who has an interest in reacting against a judicial decision must do so within the process. Therefore, if there are orders to block accounts, whoever they are, the interested party must react in the process by providing the necessary clarifications," he said.

According to the President of the TS, the courts do not persecute people because they are the entities that work to guarantee citizens' rights.

"What can't happen is, if there is a process, to react outside of that process. It has to be within the process," he emphasized, quoted by RM.

Muchanga was speaking as part of the celebrations for the International Day against Corruption, marked on December 9.