A lawyer and a party official for the leading opposition candidate in Mozambique’s recent presidential election were fatally shot in their car late Friday night, escalating tensions in a nation already on edge after this month’s highly disputed vote.
The lawyer, Elvino Dias, was preparing to challenge the election results for candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who gained significant popularity, outperforming all other opposition candidates in the October 9 poll. Independent election observation missions reported irregularities in the voting process that appeared to favor Daniel Chapo of Frelimo, the ruling party that has governed Mozambique since its independence nearly 50 years ago.
The stakes were high in the race to replace President Filipe Nyusi, who is concluding his two-term limit. Although final results have yet to be announced, Mr. Chapo currently holds a significant lead based on initial tallies.
Prior to the killings, Mr. Mondlane, who garnered widespread support from disillusioned youth, claimed that he was being cheated and called for public protests. The Podemos party, which supports him, had organized a strike for Monday, with Mr. Dias among the key organizers.
Paulo Guambe, a senior official of Podemos, was also killed when gunmen ambushed the vehicle carrying him and Mr. Dias in the capital, Maputo, according to police reports.
Police stated in a news conference that the victims appeared to have been involved in an argument at a nearby market before they were followed and shot by the assailants.
Speaking from the location of the killings, Mr. Mondlane described the murders as politically motivated, affirming that the planned strike would proceed. He stated, “Monday will be the first step in a continuing fight for democracy,” and warned of possible escalation if police responded with violence.
Mr. Chapo called for a swift investigation into the murders, labeling them “an affront to democracy and the principles of a democratic rule of law, which we must all protect.”
A joint statement from the diplomatic missions of the United States, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, and Britain expressed concern over the murders, condemning political violence and urging peaceful and lawful resolution of electoral disputes.
Violence had already erupted following the election, with four of Mr. Mondlane's supporters injured in clashes with police during a mass march in Nampula earlier that week.
Meanwhile, Mozambique is grappling with a violent insurgency in the north, backed by Islamic State, which exacerbates economic challenges in the country of 33 million. High unemployment and poverty rates, coupled with insufficient public investment in essential sectors like education and health, add to the public’s discontent.
As in several southern African nations, public frustration with Frelimo has grown, with critics alleging electoral fraud. The party has denied these allegations. Following this month’s election, the International Republican Institute reported that the election did not meet international standards, citing misuse of public resources, ballot stuffing, voter intimidation, and discrepancies in registered voters.