Independent presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane has issued a warning that he will call for a nationwide strike to bring Mozambique to a halt if the ruling party, Frelimo, claims victory in the recent presidential election. Mondlane, citing figures from his polling station delegates, asserted that he is leading after Wednesday's vote. Preliminary results are expected on Saturday, with the full official count to follow in 15 days.
Reuters has not been able to independently verify Mondlane’s claims. Frelimo, which has governed Mozambique since 1975, has frequently faced accusations of election rigging, which it denies. Daniel Chapo, Frelimo’s candidate, is widely anticipated to win, succeeding outgoing President Filipe Nyusi.
Mondlane, who enjoys strong support from disillusioned youth, is seen by analysts as the most formidable challenger to Frelimo in years. Although he expressed opposition to violence, Mondlane warned of high risks, stating that he would contest any Frelimo victory through legal means and peaceful demonstrations.
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"We will mobilize the people to reject the results," he declared, vowing to initiate an economic shutdown if necessary.
In response, a Frelimo spokesperson emphasized that the party is waiting for official results, adding, "Frelimo does not declare victory; that is done by the official election body."
While Mondlane admitted he had no definitive proof of election fraud, civil society groups have reported irregularities, including election observers being denied access to watch the preliminary vote count.
In the past, protests erupted after Frelimo’s win in last year’s municipal elections, leading to a forceful crackdown.
On Friday, Maputo remained calm, though armed police were visible along key roads.
If elected, Mondlane said he would reform tax policies to ensure more of the revenue from multinational companies like ExxonMobil is used for local development. He also plans to provide greater financial support for young entrepreneurs.
ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies are involved in major gas projects in northern Mozambique, which have been stalled due to an Islamist insurgency. Mondlane expressed his intent to negotiate with insurgent leaders and increase development in Cabo Delgado, a historically marginalized region. "Peace in Cabo Delgado cannot be achieved by excluding the insurgents," he remarked.
