By Mikozi Buzz
Following the controversial election results in Mozambique, continuous bloody demonstration are a new norm in Mozambique. As of today, Presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane called for a one-week general strike in the country starting on Thursday, 31 Oct. , demonstrations at the district headquarters of the National Electoral Commission (CNE) and marches to Maputo on 7 November.
“A week [until 7 November] is enough for us all to leave our districts, our localities, for Maputo”, said Venâncio Mondlane, who is contesting the results of the general elections of 9 October, in a statement from his official Facebook account.
In his speech, Mondlane called for demonstrations at local CNE offices and headquarters of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo, the ruling party) starting on Thursday, October 31, for those who are unable to travel, asking the rest, from all over the country, to begin their journey to Maputo by November 7.
“We are going to fill the entire city of Maputo and I am predicting four million Mozambicans (…), a flood never seen before”, he appealed, acknowledging that he was asking for “a sacrifice” from the population.
This will be what Venâncio Mondlane classified as the third stage of the protest, which in previous stages has already involved violent clashes between supporters and the police.
“A week-long strike. This time it will be painful. We have to sacrifice ourselves for our country”, he said, insisting: “Starting on Thursday, which is October 31, mark this date. We are going to begin a new cycle, a total strike, a strike, public demonstrations, in the streets”.
“We are about to begin a very difficult cycle. You and I have to do something for this country,” he said in the same speech.
In amidst of the ongoing political unrest in Mozambique, the already fractured fuel industry in Malawi is at halt as the transporters will not be able to travel in the said period during the demonstrations.
While Malawian’s are struggling with continuous fuel shortages, it is not yet certain when this issue shall be resolved and Malawian’s have to brace for more fuel shortages for a long time. Companies like Puma have issued warnings to their transporters that they ought to park their tankers for safety.
