
Maputo, 21 Sep (AIM) – Venancio Mondlane, the independent candidate in Mozambique’s presidential election, returned to Maputo on Friday evening after three weeks of election rallies in the northern and central provinces.
He told the large crowd that was waiting for him at Maputo airport that the result of his provincial tour was “way better than my expectations”.
“The message was very well received”, he claimed, “and the greatest surprise was to find that people know who Venancio is, even in localities that don’t have much communication technology. People know Venancio, they know the general lines of our project. It was marvelous”.
He had visited remote areas, “but the message is there. So I’m very motivated to continue this battle”.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General’s Office (PGR) wants to question Mondlane about the alleged use of foul language in his campaign. The PGR accuses him of using “improperios” – the dictionary translation of this term is “curse word”, “swear word” or just “foul language”.
This is a case where the dictionary can be misleading. The word in question, used in one of Mondlane’s campaign songs, is “suca!” – which is an imperative, meaning “get out!” or “go away!”
The term is certainly not obscene, and it is doubtful whether it can even be described as insulting. All depends on the context.
If the PGR threatens measures against Mondlane for his supposedly inappropriate language, it risks exposing itself to ridicule.
Meanwhile, the leader and presidential candidate of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), Lutero Simango, has accused all Frelimo governments of “doing nothing” for the people of the central province of Manica.
Addressing a rally in the district of Guro, Simango said “we want to change things. We want to promote a Mozambique for all, since Mozambique belongs to all. For young people, we are going to promote more jobs and business opportunities”.
He dismissed the previous three Frelimo Presidents. “What did (Joaquim) Chissano do?”, he asked. “What did (Armando) Guebuza and (Filipe) Nyusi do for you? You are suffering, you have no jobs. Manica is not developing. You are abandoned. In my governance, you will have a better life”.
In the municipality of Catandica, Simango promised to end political discrimination, particularly in education. “The reds (i.e. Frelimo) confuse science with politics”, he said, “and that is why, in order to become a school director, you must have a red card. With Lutero Simango and the MDM, this will finish”.
(AIM)
Pf/ (410)