Venâncio Mondlane: Mozambique opposition leader says protests must go on for ‘2 to 3 months’

As a result of the death toll from the demonstrations the mortuaries in capital, Maputo, have become full.

One gravedigger in the city told the BBC that the number of burials he has assisted at has also shot up.

“On normal days, we conduct between six and eight burials a day,” Jorge Alfredo said.

“But today, since the cemetery reopened after the demonstrations, we struggled because we had to handle double the usual number of burials.”

Speaking to the BBC last month, Mozambique’s police commander Bernadino Raphael blamed Mondlane’s supporters for the deaths.

“They are using children as shields in front of them while they remain behind,” he alleged.

The commander added that in many instances police had no choice but to defend themselves from protesters who had unleashed violence, including killing six officers and looting and burning property and vehicles.

Protesters appear determined to carry on, however.

Recently, they have responded to some of Mondlane’s more creative ideas for demonstrations, such as banging pots and pans indoors at the same time every night and parking their cars on the streets to block traffic for several hours throughout the day.

The ruling party are feeling the pressure, Mondlane believes.

“Frelimo knows that if these protests carry on, there’s a huge risk that the country will become unfeasible,” he said.

After the result was announced on 24 October, Chapo was adamant that he and Frelimo had won in a free and fair contest, saying: “We are an organised party that prepares its victories.”

And if Frelimo do not concede and instead choose to progress with their five-year term? Mondlane believes that if the electoral process is reformed to make it more transparent then he will win the 2029 presidential election.

“Because the economic and social situation is so bad, there’s no way that this regime will manage to improve the situation in the next five years,” he said.

“I dare say that we will win, without a doubt.”