Mondlane retreating from declaring himself president

Maputo, 26 Dec (AIM) – Self-exiled Mozambican presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane is having second thoughts about declaring himself president of the country in mid-January.

Mondlane insists that he is the true winner of the 9 October presidential election, although he has not produced the polling station results sheets (“editais”) that would prove his case.

Until Thursday, he has insisted that he will take office as the next president in Maputo, on 15 January.

Now, however, he has added a condition. In his latest broadcast to his followers, transmitted via his Facebook page, he has demanded that his followers cease the orgy of looting and destruction that has gripped the country since the announcement of the definitive election results last Monday.

Mondlane seems to have recognised that the footage of rioters pillaging supermarkets is doing his cause no good at all.

He warned that if the looting continues, then he will not take office on 15 January. He asked how it would be possible to accept the post of President in the midst “of ruins and chaos”.

He claimed that his struggle is “in defence of the public good and the defence of shops and companies”.

“I’m not going to take office while we are destroying everything”, he exclaimed. “How will I arrive at the site of the inauguration ceremony? Am I to take office in the midst of rubble?”

Mondlane urged the public to defend companies, shops and public institutions. “We are not here to destroy the shops and companies of our neighbours”, he declared. “We want a change in the country, but without attacking others who are also suffering”.

This is Mondlane’s strongest appeal against looting to date – but his previous appeals had no effect, and it is unlikely that this one will halt the gangs of young men who say they follow Mondlane but frequently ignore his instructions.

The looting gives Mondlane an excuse to call off his bid for presidential power. Declaring himself the new head of state would require support from the defence and security forces that he does not have.

Mondlane was speaking from an undisclosed location believed to be somewhere in Europe. The only European country where he is known to have political support is Portugal.

On a visit to Lisbon earlier in the year he was warmly welcomed by the far-right party, Chega, which is openly enthusiastic for the colonial-fascist regime overthrown in April 1974.
(AIM)
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