The Mozambican national migration service (Senami) clarified on Friday that the reason why the diplomatic passport was withdrawn from presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane on his arrival in Maputo on Thursday was because it was “cancelled” after he resigned as a member of parliament.
In a statement, Senami explains that at border control at Maputo International Airport, where he arrived on Thursday after 8am local time (two hours less in Lisbon), after two and a half months abroad, during his arrival process at immigration the system “rejected” the passport “because it was cancelled due to the holder’s resignation as a member of parliament”.
Senami recalls that according to the legislation in force, the diplomatic passport was allocated to Venâncio Mondlane “in his capacity as a member of parliament”, in this case elected in 2019 by the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo).
“As he resigned from office on 3 June 2024, he lost all rights inherent to the position, including the use of a diplomatic passport as a member of parliament,” reads Senami’s clarification.
In the same document, the body emphasises that “with the cessation of the reasons that dictated” its attribution, “it was up to the ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation to order the withdrawal of the diplomatic passport”, with Senami only being responsible for “executing the measure”.
“In view of this scenario, Senami proceeded to withhold the said passport,” the clarification concludes, adding that, “if he so wishes”, Venâncio Mondlane “can apply” for an ordinary passport.
In a rupture with Renamo and its leader Ossufo Momade, after being prevented from running for the leadership of the largest opposition party at last May’s congress, Venâncio Mondlane filed a request with parliament on 3 June to resign as a member of parliament.
He also left Renamo and later announced his intention to run for the presidency in the general elections on 9 October, which he did, with the support of the Podemos party.
Following the electoral process, Venâncio Mondlane left the country, citing security concerns, on 21 October, on the first day of violent post-election demonstrations, which have left almost 300 people dead and more than 600 shot. He returned this Thursday and reaffirmed that he does not recognise the election results.
On 23 December, the Constitutional Council, the final court of appeal in electoral disputes, proclaimed Daniel Chapo, the candidate supported by the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo), as the winner of the election for country’s president, with 65.17% of the votes, succeeding Filipe Nyusi in office, as well as the victory of Frelimo, which retained its parliamentary majority, in the general elections on 9 October.
Daniel Chapo is scheduled to take office in Maputo on 15 January.
His election is, however, being contested on the streets and the Constitutional Council’s announcement has added to the chaos that the country has been experiencing since October, with pro-Venâncio Mondlane demonstrators – a candidate who according to the Constitutional Council obtained only 24% of the votes but who claims victory – in protests demanding the ‘restoration of electoral truth’, with barricades, looting and clashes with the police, who have been firing shots in an attempt to demobilise them.
Lusa