The independent candidate for the Presidency of the Republic, Venâncio Mondlane, on Sunday, in the district of Gúruè, criticized the management of the Mayor of Quelimane, Manuel de Araújo, for leaving council workers without salaries for long months.

For Venâncio Mondlane, Manuel de Araújo should show the dignity of paying his workers' wages so that he could be given votes of confidence as he is running for Governor of Zambezia province.

"There's a friend of mine who wants to be Governor. The problem is that he can't pay his wages in his little town. What's it going to be like? I like him. He's my friend. But first he has to solve the salary problems," he told the electorate.

In response to the candidate supported by the Podemos party, Manuel de Araújo called Venâncio Mondlane a "kid", stressing that he should be humble and that his profile lacks the requirements to be President of the Republic.

The Quelimane mayor recalled that although Venâncio Mondlane claimed victory in two elections in which he ran for the presidency of Maputo Municipality, he never governed. The first time Mondlane ran as head of the list was in 2013, for the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) party, the second in 2018 and the third in 2023, both for Renamo.

"He says he has won the elections in Maputo twice, but has he governed? He says he was robbed [of votes] twice. He didn't manage to govern Maputo. Do you think he's going to govern Mozambique? Then tell him to be humble. We've been in charge for 13 years. Is he or isn't he?" he asked the electorate.

In this sense, he is inviting Venâncio Mondlane to gain experience in governance, starting with Quelimane.

"So we're calling that kid, called Venâncio, to come here and learn how to win and govern. We're not just teaching Mozambique and Africa, but the whole world how to govern," he said, adding that in November he will represent Quelimane at the World Urbanization Forum in Cairo, Egypt. "Now, ask that kid if he'll be in Cairo. Ask him if was invited to Addis Ababa. Ask him if he didn't go to Sweden to pray."