In a tragic incident late Friday night, a lawyer representing opposition leader Venancio Mondlane was killed in Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. Elvino Dias was shot dead along with his colleague, Paulo Guambe, who is the spokesman for the Podemos party. They were targeted while sitting in their car, which was fired upon by gunmen, leaving the vehicle riddled with bullets.
This tragic event follows a recent presidential election in Mozambique, which has been filled with controversy. Many people have accused the long-ruling Frelimo party of cheating during the election. Dias was preparing to challenge the election results in court, as the official announcement from the electoral authority was expected soon.
Witnesses reported that around 25 shots were fired at the car. Images shared on social media showed the horrific aftermath, with blood and chaos surrounding the victims. The police have stated that a woman who was in the car with them was injured and is currently receiving medical treatment.
According to the police spokesperson, Leonel Muchina, Dias, and Guambe had been at a bar earlier that night, where they had a heated argument with other patrons. The police believe the assailants tracked them down after their bar visit, blocked their car, and then opened fire.
The Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), a local non-profit organization, has labeled this attack a political crime. They believe it was carried out by death squads that have targeted activists and human rights defenders in the past.
Tensions are high in Mozambique after the election on October 9, which saw Frelimo party candidate Daniel Chapo projected as the winner. Chapo, who is seen as relatively untouched by past corruption scandals, could lead the country into a new era, but many are skeptical about the fairness of the election process.
Mondlane, the independent candidate backed by Podemos, strongly disagrees with the preliminary election results, which show him in second place behind Chapo. He has accused national security forces of murdering his lawyer and trying to hide the truth. Reports suggest that police may have tampered with evidence at the crime scene by removing bullet casings and interfering with potential witnesses.
On Monday, the African Union, which has been observing the electoral process, condemned the killings and expressed serious concern over the violence following the election. The European Union has also condemned these politically motivated murders, urging the government to conduct an independent investigation into the shocking events.
As Mozambique grapples with this violence and the accusations surrounding the election, many are left wondering: what will happen next in this troubled nation? The assassination of a key political figure raises serious questions about safety and the future of democracy in Mozambique.
