Photo Credit: https://mznews.co.mz/
Article Credit: https://community.caritas.org/
In October 2024, Mozambique held presidential elections, which were followed by several weeks of election-related protests and unrest in Maputo and surrounding areas. On 23 December, the winning party was confirmed by the Constitutional Council and protests escalated, spreading across multiple provinces in the country. Amid protests, thousands of people have fled to neighbouring countries. While some people have reportedly returned to Mozambique, many remain in neighbouring Malawi and Eswatini. Challenges to return to Mozambique are further strained by the damage caused by Cyclone Chido, which devastated livelihoods in some areas of Mozambique in mid-December 2024.
Nearly three months after fleeing Mozambique, saying he feared for his life, opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane made a grand return on Thursday 9th to try to claim what he insists is rightfully his: the presidency.
Mozambique is scheduled to inaugurate a new president on the 15th January from the long-governing Frelimo party on Wednesday. Daniel Chapo of Frelimo won with 65 percent of the vote in the October election, according to the nation’s highest court. By the official tally, Mr. Mondlane got just 24 percent.
Mr. Mondlane’s return comes at a delicate moment for this mineral – and gas – rich nation of 33 million.
About a quarter mile away, thousands of his supporters crowded police barricades, shouting, “The president has arrived! The president has arrived!” beneath a steady drizzle. The police kept the crowd at bay using tear gas and latter started firing real bullet.
So far the reports show more than 400 deaths, more than 2,000 people have been arrested and more than a thousand injured.
Mozambicans living close to Malawi and Eswatine seek refuge in those neighbouring countries.
Most of the demonstrators who blocked the roads and threw up barricades were on foot. They prevented all traffic along major thoroughfare, including N4 highway between Maputo and Matola, which connects Mozambique and South Africa.
On the 13th January, a new Parliament was sworn in (only Frelimo and PODEMOS), MDM and RENAMO refused to swear in because they do not accept the election results. On this day, many roads in the country were blocked with Maputo city and its surroundings being the most affected.
Tomorrow, 15th, it is expected the new President to swear in and most of the invited guests (Heads of States) have refused to attend with the excuse of not being safe to travel to Mozambique.
In the midst of the post-election tension that the country has been experiencing since the results of the 9 October elections were announced, and just a few weeks after the passage of Cyclone CHIDO, which hit the provinces of Nampula and Cado Delgado, Mozambique is preparing for the arrival of yet another cyclone called Dikeledi. The provinces of Nampula and Zambézia could be affected on Tuesday (14) by cyclone ‘DIKELEDI’. The National Meteorological Institute warns that the phenomenon will cause rainfall of over 200 millimetres and very strong winds. The epicentre of cyclone ‘DIKELEDI’ could be the district of Mossuril, in Nampula.
The National Meteorological Institute warns that the system will cause rainfall of over 200 mm/24h with thunderstorms, strong winds with gusts of up to 160Km/h in the districts of Mossuril, Mogincual, Liupo, Angoche Larde, Moma, Mogovolas, Meconta, Monapo, Muecate and the city of Nampula, in Nampula province.
In Zambezia province, ‘DIKELEDI’ could lose strength, causing rainfall of between 100 and 150 mm/24h, accompanied by thunderstorms and strong winds in the districts of Pebane, Gilé, Mocuba, Mocubela, Maganja da Costa, Mulevala, Nicoadala, Maquival, Namacurra and the city of Quelimane.
As Caritas Mozambique prepares this update, strong winds caused by cyclone DIKELEDI is already hitting the northern part of Mozambique and in next hours Caritas Mozambique will provide more information from their colleagues from the Dioceses of Nampula, Nacala and Quelimane.