PGR questions Venâncio Mondlane

Maputo, 27 Jun (AIM) – The Mozambican Attorney-General’s Office (PGR) on Friday questioned former presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, but has so far not charged him with any crimes.

Mondlane told reporters that the prosecutors asked him about an audio recording circulating on social media dealing with the security of his family.

“They switched on the audio and I had to say whether I knew the audio, and whether it was my voice”, said Mondlane. “In the recording I was speaking about the lack of security for my family, that I felt there was no security for my family in Mozambique, and that I wanted to take my family out of Mozambique”.

He was not charged with any offence, and if his summary of the recording is accurate, it does not constitute a crime.

When reporters asked him about his talks with President Daniel Chapo, Mondlane accused the President of contradicting himself.

“For example, we reached consensus about the people who were detained (during the post-election unrest), that these young people should be released and return to their families, and the technical discussion was about how to do this”, said Mondlane. “It is paradoxical that this same head of the government now appears saying that he rejects my proposal because it has no legal basis”.

A large number of Mondlane’s supporters accompanied him to the PGR headquarters, turning his appearance into an impromptu anti-government demonstration.

Mondlane also confirmed that he will attend the first meeting this year of the Council of State, a body that advises the President of the Republic. The meeting was originally scheduled for 24 June, but has been postponed to a date yet to be fixed.

Mondlane has a seat on the Council of State, because of his status as runner-up in last year’s presidential election. After consulting some of his supporters, Mondlane has decided he will attend the Council rather than boycott it.
(AIM)
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