The movement returned timidly yesterday to the Xiquelene ‘chapas’ terminal, on the outskirts of Maputo. The more or less informal public transport that moves the Mozambican capital circulated far from the usual frenzy, but much more so than on Thursday, the first of two days of general strike promoted by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who demands for himself and Podemos, the political force that supports him, won the elections won by Frelimo.
It’s not just the ‘boards’ who have slowly returned to work. In the city’s poorest neighborhoods, many grocery stores and small bars have reopened to liven up a weekend eve in which the return to normality that the current situation in Mozambique allows is expected.
Acácio Chinungo still feared that at the end of the day on Friday “the confusion could return” which would prevent that experienced and calm ‘plata’ driver from covering the 70 kilometers he still had ahead of him.
The burning tires on the road and the police blockades are bad for the business of a people who mostly live in poverty, but Acácio Chinungo understands the revolt of the last few days: “There is a need to help Mozambicans to claim their rights” because, he argues , “in any country, in any part of the world, everyone has the duty to claim a right that is ours.” And, “as everyone knows, many Mozambicans voted against what is happening. We all hope for the democratic path”, he concludes. Acácio’s desire may require the time and patience that characterizes many Africans, even though the protest demonstrations and clashes with the police stopped this Friday.
The sudden disappearance of the challenge coincided with the unexpected and unjustified suspension of mobile Internet service in Maputo. Without access to networks, notably WhatsApp, the opposition had no way to articulate itself. Nor, apparently, does Venâncio Mondlane – who remained partly uncertain yesterday – have any other way of mobilizing his supporters.
Government asks to avoid gatherings
The Portuguese Government yesterday advised Portuguese people in Mozambique to avoid popular gatherings and to take extra security precautions, given the social unrest that followed the last elections.
“In view of the social unrest that has occurred in some Mozambican cities, in the aftermath of the last elections, all Portuguese citizens in Mozambique are advised to avoid popular gatherings and to maintain extra security precautions”, reads the note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, available on the Communities Portal.
DETAILS
Suspension
The Norwegian Refugee Council has suspended most of its aid operations due to violence in northern Mozambique, the non-governmental organization announced in a statement.
Detainees
The Police of the Republic of Mozambique announced yesterday that it had detained 371 people across the country and “44 criminal cases had been drawn up, which have already been sent to the Public Ministry”. In Nampula province, one person died.
Source: www.cmjornal.pt
