The Mozambican President, Daniel Chapo, asked the population on Thursday (30) to put an end to the destruction and vandalism of infrastructure in the post-election demonstrations and called for tolerance and respect for the pluralism of ideas, Lusa reported.
According to Lusa, the president was speaking during his first working visit to Zambézia province, in the centre of the country, as head of state, where this Friday (31) he will lead the opening ceremony for the 2025 school year in Lugela district.
‘As Mozambicans we have to preserve the things we are building. It’s very important to realise that, since our independence, we’ve been building our country (…). It doesn’t make sense for someone to wake up in the morning and destroy what belongs to them,’ said Chapo, warning of the consequences of destruction “for our people’s tomorrow”.
On the occasion, the President defended respect for the plurality of opinions: ‘We are Mozambicans, we are not obliged to think in the same way, thinking differently is important because that is what builds Mozambique.’
The Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA) estimated that more than 500 businesses were vandalised during the post-election demonstrations in Mozambique, and that at least 12,000 people were left unemployed.
On 23 December, the Mozambican Constitutional Council (CC) proclaimed Daniel Chapo, the candidate supported by the ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo), the winner of the presidential elections, with 65.17% of the votes, as well as the victory of Frelimo, which retained the parliamentary majority obtained in the general elections on 9 October.
This announcement caused chaos throughout the country, with supporters of Venâncio Mondlane – who, according to the CC, won only 24 per cent of the vote – taking to the streets to demonstrate, with barricades, looting and clashes with the police.
The contestation of the election results led to at least 315 deaths and around 750 gunshot wounds, according to civil society organisations.
