In a shocking incident, Elvino Dias, the lawyer representing Mozambique’s leading opposition presidential candidate, Venancio Mondlane, was killed in a deadly shooting in Maputo on Saturday. Dias was gunned down alongside Paulo Guambe, a candidate from the Podemos party, which supports Mondlane.
According to witnesses, two gunmen opened fire on their vehicle while it was stationary on a road in the center of the capital. The attack has sparked outrage, with civil society group Mais Integridade condemning the killings as a “repugnant” act of intimidation aimed at undermining democracy.
While the police confirmed that an investigation is underway, they have yet to officially identify the victims. The European Union has also condemned the murders and called for a full and transparent investigation to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Albino Forquilha, the head of the Podemos party, confirmed the deaths to AFP, while the national lawyers’ association expressed “deep shock” at Dias’s assassination, stating, “In a democracy, there is no place for politically motivated killings.”
The incident comes as Mozambique awaits the official nationwide results from the October 9 elections, which are expected to be released on October 24. Venancio Mondlane, who challenged the ruling Frelimo party that has been in power for 49 years, claimed victory shortly after the polls closed. However, he has alleged electoral fraud, as Frelimo asserts it is leading in the vote counts.
Mondlane has called for demonstrations on Monday to protest the alleged irregularities in the election process.
The political landscape in Mozambique remains tense as the nation anticipates the official results.
