Podemos social gathering’s lawyer Elvino Dias and social gathering consultant Paulo Guambe killed earlier than protests in opposition to the disputed vote.
Gunmen in Mozambique have killed a number one opposition politician’s lawyer and one other opposition official, in line with their social gathering, earlier than protests in opposition to a disputed election outcome.
The attackers chased the automotive of Podemos social gathering’s lawyer Elvino Dias and social gathering consultant Paulo Guambe and fatally shot them late on Friday night time within the capital Maputo, the social gathering stated on Saturday.
Movies on social media confirmed a BMW SUV in the midst of the highway with quite a few bullet holes within the bodywork. A few of the movies confirmed what seemed to be the our bodies of two males, one with blood on his chest, within the entrance seats. The opposite physique was slumped over.
The killings got here with tensions already excessive within the southern African nation because it waits for the outcomes of an October 9 election that has drawn extra allegations of vote-rigging and clamping down on dissent in opposition to the 49-year rule of the Entrance for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo) social gathering.
Podemos has rejected provisional outcomes exhibiting a win for Frelimo and referred to as for a nationwide strike on Monday. Though Venancio Mondlane ran for president as an unbiased, he was supported by Podemos.
The killings are “additional clear proof of the shortage of justice that we’re all subjected to”, Podemos said.
“They have been brutally assassinated [in a] cold-blooded homicide,” Adriano Nuvunga, director of Mozambique’s Heart for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), instructed the Reuters information company by phone.
“The indication [is] that round 10 to fifteen bullets have been shot, and so they died immediately.”
Human Rights Watch additionally issued a press release confirming the assault.
In accordance with the most recent election tally, Frelimo is main in all 11 provinces and its candidate Daniel Chapo is extensively expected to win the election. Chapo is predicted to be introduced as successor to President Filipe Nyusi, who has served a most of two phrases.
Podemos and different opposition events have accused Frelimo of electoral fraud. Western observers have additionally forged doubt on the polls, citing experiences of vote-buying, intimidation, and inflated voter rolls in Frelimo strongholds.
Mozambique has struggled with these points since Frelimo first launched democracy in 1994 after twenty years in energy. The election’s remaining outcomes are anticipated on October 24, however there are fears Monday’s protest could possibly be violent.
Mozambique’s safety forces have opened hearth on political protesters previously, together with after final yr’s native elections, in line with rights teams.
Nuvunga, the NGO director, wrote on social media that the killing of Dias was a “political assassination”.
