Silvio Jeremias was on his means residence from his job at a petroleum station on the night time of 25 October, in Mozambique’s capital Maputo, when he and his buddies occurred upon a gaggle of protesters demonstrating towards that day’s election outcomes.
The ruling Frelimo occasion’s presidential candidate Daniel Chapo secured 70.7% of the vote, in line with official outcomes, making certain the occasion that has dominated Mozambique since independence in 1975 remained in energy, however there have been widespread allegations of rigging.
On the protest, considered one of many throughout the nation, the police fired reside bullets and Jeremias, who had a two-year-old daughter, was shot useless.
“This example was a complete shock for us. He was nonetheless very younger,” his good friend Carmelita Chissico mentioned. Jeremias is considered one of not less than 11 folks killed by safety forces throughout protests towards the election outcomes throughout the nation on 24 and 25 October, whereas 50 acquired severe gunshot wounds, in line with Human Rights Watch.
Police mentioned they solely shot reside bullets within the air to disperse crowds. Angela Uaela, a police spokesperson, mentioned that one lady was killed and 5 folks injured by “stray bullets”, when police tried to stop supporters of opposition occasion Podemos from snatching a gun from them.
Mozambique is likely one of the world’s poorest nations and its younger inhabitants – the typical age is lower than 18 – is popping towards Frelimo, which has ruled for nearly 5 many years.
Its fundamental opponent in final month’s election was Venâncio Mondlane, a former forestry engineer and banker who captured the imaginations of many youthful voters.
Podemos claimed it received 53% of the vote and 138 seats in parliament. It has submitted 300 kg value of paperwork in help of a 100-page authorized problem to the election outcomes. The official election fee, nevertheless, mentioned Frelimo had elevated its illustration within the 250-seat parliament by 11 MPs to 195, whereas Podemos received 31.
Earlier than the vote, civil society teams had accused Frelimo of registering nearly 900,000 pretend voters, out of an voters of 17 million. Mozambique’s Catholic bishops alleged there had been poll stuffing, whereas EU election observers mentioned there have been “irregularities throughout counting and unjustified alteration of election outcomes”.
On 19 October, as allegations of vote rigging have been already swirling, lawyer Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe, a filmmaker and Podemos official, have been shot useless by unknown gunmen.
Human rights researchers have mentioned that the shootings match a sample of opposition politicians, journalists, activists and attorneys being killed and nobody being delivered to justice.
“It’s untimely to say whether or not or not there are any clues [as to who the killers are],” mentioned Hilário Lole, spokesperson for the Nationwide Legal Investigation Service, which is investigating the case.
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António Niquice, a member of Frelimo’s central committee, mentioned he was shocked by the shootings and referred to as on the judiciary to carry the killers accountable.
Plain garments policemen additionally allegedly shot at Mondlane as he held a press convention on 21October on the web site the place Dias and Guambe have been killed.
“They began firing actual bullets instantly at… Venâncio,” mentioned Amade Ali, a 30-year-old who was appearing as considered one of Mondlane’s bodyguards.
“We began working to the automobile [and I] all of the sudden acquired hit by an actual bullet, not a rubber one,” he mentioned, indicating {that a} bullet had hit his proper cheekbone.For these mourning Jeremias, their grief has merged with requires political change. Final Tuesday, as mourners wept over his coffin, carrying white t-shirts bearing his face and holding up his photograph. They shouted out, calling for justice and democracy.
In footage broadcast by STV, an area TV station, two younger girls held up paper indicators in Portuguese that learn: “You possibly can kill me however don’t kill democracy.”
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