Mozambican opposition politician Venâncio Mondlane has accused the ruling Frelimo party of orchestrating multiple assassination attempts against him since the disputed general elections in October 2024.
Speaking on CIPCAST, a podcast by the anti-corruption organisation Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), Mondlane claimed there have been five failed attempts on his life, the most recent occurring on March 5.
According to Mondlane, members of the Rapid Intervention Unit, Mozambique’s riot police, opened fire on his motorcade in the Xiquelene neighbourhood of Maputo on March 5.
While police officials stated they were dispersing a large crowd of Mondlane supporters, the opposition leader insists he was the target.
“They were real bullets, murderous bullets,” Mondlane said, adding that his cameraman was injured in the attack.
“The proximity of the police, armed with AK-47s, shows that I was the target.”
Mondlane further alleged that over 400 of his supporters have been killed by police since October, attributing the violence to what he described as “political intolerance and anti-democratic practices” by Frelimo.
He also claimed that recent legal actions against him and his team, including his questioning by the Attorney-General’s Office and the detention of his treasurer, Gloria Nobre, are part of a broader strategy of intimidation.
The accusations come in the wake of Mozambique’s controversial 2024 elections, which saw Frelimo’s Daniel Chapo declared the winner with 65 percent of the vote.
Opposition groups, led by Mondlane, have rejected the results, alleging widespread electoral fraud.
The elections were marred by violent protests, with rights groups reporting over 130 deaths in clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
Mondlane, who garnered 24 percent of the vote according to official results, claims he won the presidency based on his party’s tally.
JN/APA