PODEMOS presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane revealed yesterday (Wednesday 18) that the President of the Republic contacted him for the first time and was convinced that Filipe Nyusi wants to have reasons to declare a state of emergency and remain in power.

"I am deeply convinced that President Nyusi wants to stay in power. He expects me to encourage people to hold violent demonstrations in order to have a reason to declare a state of emergency so that he can stay in power for a few more weeks," said Mondlane, who rejects the results of the October 9 general elections announced by the National Electoral Commission (CNE).

Speaking to MEPs in Strasbourg yesterday, Mondlane began by saying, without giving details of the conversation, that for the first time the Mozambican statesman had contacted him by telephone to discuss the demonstrations that have been taking place since last October.

As for the expected announcement of the election results by the Constitutional Council (CC), the PODEMOS presidential candidate said he was not optimistic, warning that it would be difficult to predict the scenario once the results had been announced.

"I don't know what will happen after the final results are announced, I believe that the people will decide for themselves what they want to do," he stressed, admitting, however, that "it's going to be a difficult situation to deal with because people will understand that it's the last phase and they are currently very attracted to more aggressive and intense measures."

Venâncio Mondlane also revealed that his return to Mozambique depends on the announcement of the results by the Constitutional Council.

(Photo DR)