Continued Violence Against Venâncio Mondlane Supporters in Mozambique

The murder of Leão de Deus, a supporter of Venâncio Mondlane, in Inhambane province has raised the total number of his supporters killed to 13. The Mozambican NGO, “Decide,” reported that violence against opposition members continues, with recent assassinations raising significant concerns about political safety in the country. The police have not commented on these incidents, highlighting a troubling lack of accountability.

The Mozambican NGO, the “Decide” Electoral Platform, has reported the murder of another supporter of former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane in Zavala district, Inhambane province. The victim, Leão de Deus, was kidnapped on Saturday and subsequently shot in the Chissibuca region. “The victim was kidnapped and shot dead in the district of Zavala. He was known for his strong convictions in support of the political movement of the former presidential candidate,” noted a statement from “Decide.”

Thus far, the Mozambican police have not issued a statement regarding these murders. The “Decide” Electoral Platform indicated that with this latest incident, the total number of Mondlane supporters killed by organized death squads has escalated to 13. Last week, two more of Mondlane’s supporters were assassinated by unknown assailants in Massinga district.

Previously, on October 19 of the last year, the murder of Elvino Dias, Mondlane’s lawyer, along with Paulo Guambe, an election agent for the Podemos political party, occurred in central Maputo without any arrests being made despite the dense population in the area. In another alarming incident on March 15 this year, João de Deus Nhachengo was kidnapped and murdered, paralleling the grim fate that befell Ivo Armando Nhantumbo, the leader of demonstrations in Inharrime, whose body was desecrated.

In total, the grim tally of those killed in connection to Venâncio Mondlane’s political movement now stands at 15 supporters killed, in addition to 1 from the FRELIMO party. The ongoing violence highlights the perilous situation faced by opposition members following the recent elections in Mozambique.

The ongoing violence against supporters of Venâncio Mondlane reflects a severe threat to political activists in Mozambique. With a disturbing total of 15 supporters dead, it underscores an urgent need for investigation and accountability. The silence from the Mozambican police regarding these incidents raises significant concerns about the safety and stability of the political landscape in the country. The situation warrants urgent attention from national and international authorities to ensure justice and protect political freedom.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com