PGR questions CAD leaders in connection with post-election protests

Maputo, 27 Jun (AIM) – The Mozambican Attorney-General’s Office (PGR) on Thursday questioned the president and spokesperson of the miniscule Democratic Alliance Coalition (CAD) in connection with the violent unrest that broke out following the announcement of the results of the October 2024 general elections, widely regarded as fraudulent.

According to a report in Friday’s issue of the independent newssheet “Mediafax”, the CAD spokesperson, Justino Mondlane, is accused of conspiracy against the State, an assault against the State, and participation in the demonstrations against the election results which the government describes as illegal. The CAD chairperson, Manecas Daniel, is also accused of assault against the state.

This was the second time the PGR has questioned the CAD leaders. They both say that the charges against them have no basis in fact, particularly because they did not take part in the demonstrations.

The CAD spokesperson said he suspected the charges arise from the fact that the CAD had invited Venancio Mondlane to be the coalition’s candidate in the 2024 presidential election. Mondlane had been a senior figure in the former rebel movement Renamo, but resigned from Renamo when this party not only refused to run him as its candidate, but would not even allow him to attend its 2024 Congress held in the central municipality of Alto Molocue.

Eventually, Mondlane’s supporters were able to gather enough signatures from registered voters to allow him to run as an independent candidate. He received backing from other extra-parliamentary forces, particularly from the Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos).

As for the charge of conspiracy, the CAD spokesperson told “Mediafax” that he had never met with Venancio Mondlane, although he had proposed that the CAD run him as its candidate. “I don’t know whether that’s a crime”, he said. “The PGR can explain why it has summoned me again”.

Manecas Daniel said he found the behaviour of the PGR “very strange”, since he had no participation at all in the post-election demonstrations. CAD had handed the role of main supporter of the Venancio Mondlane campaign over to Podemos, and so it was Podemos that had been involved in the unrest.

The CAD lawyer, Sergio Matsinhe, told reporters that Justino Mondlane had been arrested, but then released on bail of 20,000 meticais (about 310 US dollars, at the current exchange rate). He hoped that the PGR would ensure justice since its is supposed to be committed to building a democratic state.

The PGR has summoned Venancio Mondlane himself for questioning on Friday, warning that he is liable for arrest if he does not appear.

Meanwhile, the world writers’ organisation, PEN International has this week called for the immediate and unconditional release of Mozambican writer, poet, and editor Alex Nhabanga, better known by the pen name Alex Barga. He was arrested in January following the post-election protests, and has been held in a Maputo jail ever since.

According to the daily electronic newssheet “Mozambique Times”, Barga was accused of involvement in an alleged coup plot, a charge PEN deems baseless and politically motivated. His arrest came shortly after the launch and promotion of his book “A Sociological View on the Charisma of Venâncio Mondlane”, a study analysing the political impact of the opposition leader.

PEN International, which has defended freedom of expression and protected persecuted writers around the world for over 100 years, considers Barga’s detention a blatant violation of human rights and of Mozambique’s Constitution. “Mozambican authorities must release him immediately and end the criminalisation of critical thought,” the organisation stated in a press release.
(AIM)
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