On Monday, December 2, presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane announced another week of peaceful demonstrations across the country, scheduled to take place from December 4 to 11. Dubbed the “Four by Four Period”, the initiative is part of the fourth stage of a series of protests promoted by the politician and will be concentrated in neighborhoods in different regions.
Mondlane stressed that the aim is to widely mobilize society and propose symbolic actions, including the suspension of flights to Mozambique as a sign of protest. According to the candidate, the demonstrations are organized to allow the population to travel to work until 8 a.m., and between 8 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. all activities involving motor vehicles should be suspended.
“We want only pedestrians to move through the streets, and participants without vehicles should wear placards on their clothes, while those with vehicles should attach messages to their cars,” explained Mondlane during a live stream on his official Facebook page.
Mondlane encouraged different social groups to participate in an expressive way, suggesting that unemployed students wear togas and that teachers and other professionals wear uniforms representative of their areas of training or work. Between 3.30pm and 4pm, the national anthem and the African anthem will be sung, in an act that Mondlane described as “a symbol of unity and solidarity among Mozambicans.”
In the evening, from 9pm to 10pm, the protests will take on a new format, with whistles and vuvuzelas replacing the ‘panelaços’ used in previous actions. Mondlane also called for the closure of tolls during that period, allowing free traffic, and called for the closure of Frelimo party headquarters and institutions such as the National Electoral Commission (CNE) and the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE). He also suggested blocking borders as a way of amplifying the impact of the demonstrations.
The politician recommended the cancellation of festive events, including end-of-year parties and the traditional New Year’s Eve, and reiterated that this is not a time for celebrations. In addition, Mondlane advised the suspension of classes in primary and secondary schools, asking children and teenagers to stay at home during the week. “When a people are in sorrow, respect demands that celebrations are suspended, and that this serves as an expression of solidarity with the critical moment we are going through,” said Mondlane.
The context surrounding the protests is one of growing tension in the country, with reports of clashes between demonstrators and police forces. According to Mondlane, the mobilizations are also a challenge to the results of the presidential elections held on 9 October, which, according to the National Electoral Commission (CNE), gave victory to the Frelimo candidate, Daniel Chapo, with 70.67% of the votes, while Mondlane obtained 20.32%.
The candidate said he did not recognize the results and reaffirmed his victory in the vote, adding that he would continue to demand a review of the process. The final results should be validated and proclaimed by the Constitutional Council on December 23rd. “These protests are the people’s response to a weakened democracy and a government that does not reflect the true will of Mozambicans,” concluded Mondlane.
Text: Felisberto Ruco
