Venâncio Mondlane, the presidential candidate leading the biggest challenge to the election results in Mozambique since the country's first elections, revealed yesterday, Sunday (12), that he had returned to the national territory to demonstrate his "loyalty" to the Mozambican people, taking his oath on arrival at Maputo's international airport..

Speaking yesterday on his Facebook page, Venâncio Mondlane began by thanking the people who came to welcome him at the airport and then reminded them that he owes a debt to the Mozambicans who believe in him, "that's why I took this oath as a candidate elected by the people and not by the Constitutional Council or the National Electoral Commission (CNE)".

"I'm not the candidate of the Mozambican electoral mafia, but the candidate of the genuine hearts of Mozambicans. I felt inside that I owe a debt to the Mozambicans who believed in me, putting their lives at risk for the sake of this project. That's why I took this oath as president-elect of Mozambique before this people who have been martyred so much, but who have hope that Mozambique will be better tomorrow. I took that oath and I will keep it," said the candidate.

As for Mozambique having two presidents, one of whom was proclaimed by the Constitutional Council and the other self-proclaimed by the people, Venâncio Mondlane said that this would be a challenge for democracy itself. "It's a great challenge for our democracy and we're going to show once again that sovereignty lies with the people. If the people decide, there is no law, no barrier, no police and no impediment that can stop the will of the people," explained Mondlane, recalling that "sovereignty resides in the people" according to Article 2 of the Constitution of the Republic.

Venâncio Mondlane also said that yesterday his communications team was intercepted by agents from the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) during a planned visit to Xipamanine market, on the outskirts of the Mozambican capital. According to Mondlane, the SERNIC agents started shooting with the aim of creating chaos.

"There were 20 shots fired at the truck and the communications equipment, as well as physically assaulting the communications staff. All the equipment, including cell phones, was taken by the SERNIC agents," he said, calling on the police to take more responsibility and to ensure order and protect citizens.

On the same occasion, the PODEMOS presidential candidate thanked the international community for its position on the elections held last October 9 in the country. "Many of Mozambique's relevant partners, at the moment, don't feel comfortable recognizing the election results that were announced by the Constitutional Council."

Back to Mozambique

Venâncio Mondlane explained that one of the reasons he returned to the country was "to break the narrative that he has no interest in Mozambicans and to talk to them". "I introduced myself and said, I'm here to discuss and dialog. I put forward the elements that I intend to bring to the table for dialogue," emphasized the politician.

Demands for dialog

Just yesterday, Venâncio Mondlane demanded some measures to take part in political dialogue, with the aim of putting an end to the post-election tension that has been going on in Mozambique since last October.

"There have to be concrete measures, so that the population feels in their daily lives that this dialogue is also remembering them. My proposal was a national commitment to build three million houses for young people in five years, a sum of up to 600 million dollars for small and medium-sized businesses that suffered during the demonstrations," said Mondlane.

The politician also demanded the release of the 5,000 or so people arrested during the demonstrations to contest the election results.

Inauguration

Concluding his speech, Venâncio Mondlane reiterated that "if sovereignty is indeed in the people", during the three days, the country will have demonstrations to repudiate the inaugurations that begin today, Monday.

"We have to give a signal that the people are in charge and the people are in power," he concluded, calling for protests without violence, looting or destruction of property.

(Photo DR)