|
Listen to article
|
After a week of violent protests that engulfed Mozambique in the aftermath of his controversial election victory, president-elect Daniel Chapo made an impassioned appeal for “non-violence” and “unity” on Friday. The rioting, spurred by the disputed win of his ruling party, had sent shockwaves through the country.
Chapo’s appeal was a call to end the unrest, asking citizens to abandon divisive actions in favor of reconciliation and national solidarity to ensure peace and progress.
Expressing regret over the violence that has marred his victory, Daniel Chapo, the president-elect of Mozambique, vowed on Friday that once he is inaugurated in mid-January, he would serve as “the president of all” citizens, regardless of the ongoing allegations of vote-rigging leveled by the opposition. His remarks sought to reassure the public, as tensions continue to rise over the legitimacy of his election, promising a leadership grounded in inclusivity and national unity
In a ruling that confirmed Frelimo’s victory in the October 9 elections, Mozambique’s top court upheld the party’s continued rule, marking 50 years of dominance. This judicial endorsement, however, triggered a violent outcry, with unrest sweeping across the country for four consecutive days.
Roads were blocked, shops and businesses were set ablaze, and looting ensued as citizens expressed their anger over the disputed election results.
Local NGO Plataforma Decide reported that the recent wave of violence claimed 134 lives, pushing the overall death toll since the disputed elections to a chilling total of 261. This figure paints a stark picture of the deadly consequences of the unrest, which has shaken Mozambique to its core in the aftermath of the controversial election outcome.
Chapo said in his first public statement since the court decision that the worst affected cities were the capital Maputo, neighbouring Matola, the central city of Beira and Nampula in the north.
Read also: 3 Killed As Jihadists Attack Northeastern Mozambique
“These acts only contribute to the decline of the country and the increase in the number of Mozambicans who are heading towards unemployment and poverty,” added the former provincial governor, who takes over an impoverished nation with glaring inequality in just a few weeks.
Chapo thanked citizens who helped remove makeshift barricades to try to get life back to normal and praised security forces for “mitigating the harmful effects of political polarisation”.
Several police officers died during the clashes, he added. He promised to turn around the country’s economy and to do “everything to renew” Mozambique.
International observers also pointed to electoral irregularities in the disputed presidential poll, which the Constitutional Council said Chapo won with 65.17 percent of the vote.
The country’s electoral commission had initially said Frelimo won nearly 71 percent of the vote. Before this week, Mozambique had seen a wave of demonstrations, strikes and blockades in protest at the election.
