Maputo, 23 Oct (AIM) – The Mozambican Police (PRM) detained last Monday 17 people in the central province of Sofala for allegedly being involved in disturbances during the “national general strike”, called by the independent presidential candidate, Venancio Mondlane, against the murder of prominent opposition lawyer Elvino Dias, and Paulo Guambe, election agent of Podemos.
According to Police spokesperson in Sofala, Dércio Chacate, those detained included four minors, who were later released.
“Of the detainees, 10 are from the Munhava neighbourhood in Beira, six from Massamba and one from Mobeira and are believed to be ringleaders”, he said.
Chacate said that the protesters were arrested when they were trying to place obstacles along the public highway.
“The work carried out by the Police in Sofala resulted in interventions on all the roads with these barricades, which were removed to guarantee the normal flow and free movement of people and goods”, he said.
On Tuesday, Mondlane, through his Facebook account, called for another “national general strike” to take place on 24 and 25 October, claiming that “the general strike will be directed against the kidnappings that have been plaguing the country’s cities since 2011.”
Mondlane added that the strike will also be a response to what he regards as “fraudulent results of the general elections held on 9 October” and which the National Elections Commission (CNE) intends to announce on Thursday.
Mondlane, whose current whereabouts are unknown, explained that the strike is also part of a continuous protest against the murder of his lawyer, Elvino Dias, and Paulo Guambe, an election agent of the Podemos party, which supported his presidential bid.
(AIM)
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