Quelimane mayor promises demonstrations in Zambézia

Maputo, 6 Dec (AIM) – A new wave of anti-government demonstrations is about to break out in Mozambique, but this time restricted to just one province, Zambezia.

The mayor of the provincial capital, Quelimane, Manuel de Araujo, has sent a letter to key bodies in Zambezia, including religious and community leaderships, and the Defence and Security Forces, claiming that, in the elections for the provincial assembly, held on 9 October, the opposition party Renamo won.

That would mean that Araujo, as head of the Renamo list for the Assembly, would become the new provincial governor.

“Ever since 2011 (when he was first elected Mayor of Quelimane), this people, in successive elections, has unequivocally expressed its trust in Renamo, as the true representative of its aspirations and dreams”, said Araujo.

In the elections of 9 October, the Zambezia electorate “once again chose Renamo to lead the destinies of this province”, he declared. “We will not allow the sovereign will of our people to be obliterated by any tricks or manipulations by the CNE (National Elections Commission), by STAE (Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat) or by anybody else”.

Araujo urged all residents of Zambezia “in every district, locality and neighbourhood of this vast and rich province to raise their voices in a peaceful and orderly manner to demand the restoration of the truth about the elections”.

But he did not set a date for the start of these demonstrations or explain what connection, if any, they have with the nationwide unrest spearheaded by fugitive presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane.

Mondlane was once a senior figure in Renamo, but resigned from the party in order to lead his independent presidential campaign.

For Araujo the struggle for “electoral truth”, is a battle “which transcends political parties. It is a struggle for democracy, for the future of our children and for the integrity of our country”.

“We are not rising up against the law, but in defence of the law”, he stressed. “All our actions will scrupulously respect what is determined by the Constitution”.

“Zambezia has chosen!”, Araujo declared. “Zambezia always chose. And we will not bend our knees to tricks intended to steal what belong to us. This struggle is for all of us, for Zambezia, for Mozambique, for freedom”.

If Araujo’s demonstrations do indeed go ahead, they will be the first demonstrations led by Renamo since the elections, and may mark an attempt by Renamo to win back its position as the leading force in the opposition.
(AIM)
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