Podemos Party Lawyer And Official Killed Amid Mozambique Election Dispute
TL/DR –
A lawyer and an official from Mozambique’s opposition Podemos party, Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe, were murdered ahead of protests against a disputed election result. The killing has heightened tensions in a country awaiting results from the October 9 election, which has drawn allegations of vote-rigging and clamping down on dissent against the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) party that has ruled for 49 years. The Podemos party, which has rejected provisional results showing a win for Frelimo, has called for a nationwide strike, and there are fears that the protest could turn violent.
Podemos Lawyer and Party Representative Killed Amid Mozambique Election Protests
Mozambican gunmen assassinated Elvino Dias, a leading opposition lawyer, and Paulo Guambe, a party official, fueling tension ahead of protests against a disputed election, according to the victims’ party.
The Podemos party reported that its lawyer and representative were chased and fatally shot in Maputo on Friday night.
Social media videos revealed a bullet-ridden BMW SUV, with two seemingly slain men inside, adding further substance to the incident.
This violent episode intensifies the existing tension in the southern African nation as it awaits October 9 election results, mired by allegations of vote-rigging and suppression of dissent against the longstanding Frelimo party.
Podemos disputes the provisional outcomes favoring Frelimo and advocates for a nationwide strike. The party also supported independent presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane.
“These killings are stark proof of the justice deficiency we endure,” stated Podemos.
Cold-blooded murder was the description given by Adriano Nuvunga, Mozambique’s Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD) director. He reported that about 10 to 15 bullets were fired, leading to instantaneous death.
Human Rights Watch confirmed the attack, amidst election results showing Frelimo leading in all provinces. Its candidate, Daniel Chapo, is projected to succeed incumbent President Filipe Nyusi.
Podemos and other opposition parties accuse Frelimo of electoral fraud, echoed by Western observers, citing vote-buying, intimidation, and manipulated voter lists.
Political protestors were subjected to gunfire by security forces in the past, stirring worries about potential violence on Monday’s scheduled protest.
The NGO director, Nuvunga, labelled Dias’s killing a “political assassination” on social media.
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