Former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane is making his assumption of his seat on the Council of State conditional on the presentation of short-term measures to get the population out of its stranglehold.

"If there is nothing to compensate these people, measures to make them feel included, if this is not done, I see no reason to take a seat on the Council of State," he said in an interview.

Mondlane expressed his position by recalling the hundreds of victims murdered and beaten by the police during the post-election protests. "My entire struggle was sustained by them".

In fact, for the self-proclaimed President-elect of the Republic of Mozambique, political parties became irrelevant during the demonstrations. "It was the people themselves who took the lead".

He questions the reason for sitting on the Council of State when martyred people are not included and considered in political measures.

"What role will I play there? If this doesn't happen, I won't sit on the Council of State," he said, stressing that he was not looking forward to perks such as immunity.

As the second most voted presidential candidate in the general elections of October 9, 2024, Venâncio Mondlane has a constitutional right to a seat on the Council of State, an advisory body to the President of the Republic. The body is also made up of the President of the Assembly of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the President of the Constitutional Council, the Ombudsman, former Presidents of the Republic, former Presidents of the Assembly of the Republic, seven personalities of recognized merit elected by the Assembly of the Republic and four personalities appointed by the President of the Republic.

On the other hand, Mondlane says he is aware of supposed agreements that will be signed between the political parties with parliamentary seats, including the extra-parliamentary Nova Democracia. He believes that he is excluded from debates on purpose. (Photo: DR)