He disembarked from a grey jumbo jet to the excited however muffled cheers of a number of neon vest-wearing airport employees. Not less than one fellow traveler dazedly approached him for a selfie.
Almost three months after fleeing Mozambique, saying he feared for his life, opposition chief Venancio Mondlan made a spectacular comeback on Thursday to attempt to declare what he insists is his rightful proper: the presidency.
Mozambique is about to inaugurate a brand new president from the long-ruling Frelimo celebration on Wednesday. Daniel Chapo of Frelimo gained 65 % of the vote in October’s election, in keeping with the nation’s highest court docket. In accordance with the official outcomes, Mr. Mondlane acquired solely 24 %.
After a number of unbiased election screens discovered voting irregularities, Mr. Mondlane spent months arguing the race was stolen, calling on his supporters to take to the streets. Some protests turned violent, with not less than 250 folks killed in a police response that rights teams referred to as unnecessarily brutal.
Mr. Mondlane’s return comes at a fragile time for this mineral- and gas-rich nation of 33 million. The federal government is struggling to take care of a housing and debt disaster and quell a long-running insurgency backed by Islamic State. Regional leaders akin to South Africa have despatched envoys to attempt to resolve a political deadlock that has hampered commerce and threatens additional financial harm.
Nonetheless, the staunch opposition candidate refused to budge. “I, Venancio Mondlan, elected president by the folks of Mozambique,” he stated, elevating his proper hand in entrance of a cluster of reports cameras outdoors the airport within the capital Maputo, “swear on my honor to serve Mozambique and Mozambicans.”
A couple of quarter of a mile away, 1000’s of his supporters crowded police barricades, shouting, “The president has arrived! The President has arrived!” underneath a gentle drizzle. Police saved the group at bay utilizing tear fuel.
Filipe Nyusi, the present president, introduced the leaders of the primary opposition events collectively for a gathering on Thursday to debate the options, an train some say lacks credibility as a result of Mr Mondlan was not there. After the assembly, Mr Chapo stated the events had agreed to contemplate making modifications to the electoral regulation and the structure “to accommodate the pursuits of Mozambicans”.
Mr. Mondlane, 50, could strike some as an election denier and populist troublemaker. However for his supporters, he’s a singular determine at a single second. South Africa’s voters, led by a restive younger inhabitants, have up to now yr sharply rebuked the previous electoral liberation events.
Corruption, unemployment, inequality and poor dwelling situations have fueled widespread anger in Mozambique and the area in opposition to political leaders who’re seen as unaligned. Mr. Mondlane took benefit of this wave of discontent to supply a easy message: he would take the nation again to the folks.
As celebrating crowds thronged Mr. Mondlane’s motorcade in Maputo on Thursday, witnesses stated police, unprovoked, responded with tear fuel and bullets, leaving not less than one man lifeless on the pavement with blood pouring from his head. A police spokesman declined to touch upon any deaths, saying they have been nonetheless gathering data.
“What the folks of Mozambique don’t need is Frelimo,” stated Francisco Victor Chimene, a 25-year-old driver standing subsequent to an open-air market the place Mr. Mondlan had earlier addressed crowds of his supporters. “What we would like is change. We see that Venancio will change this nation.”
Skilled in agronomy, Mr. Mondlane has a diverse resume. He has labored as a banker, a Pentecostal pastor and a TV pundit. His political breakthrough got here in 2013 when he unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Maputo. He misplaced the mayoral race once more two years in the past, however the end result was strongly contested by civil society organizations who claimed there was large fraud. A court docket has ordered a recount in a big space due to irregularities.
After dropping the management battle in Mozambique’s principal opposition celebration, Renamo, Mr Mondlan ran for president final yr with the assist of a smaller celebration, Podemos. His meteoric rise as a candidate has drawn international consideration, successful him assist amongst right-wing populists overseas, at the same time as younger, left-leaning voters have rallied behind him at house.
c video posted on social media on the marketing campaign path final yr, Mr Mondlin thanked Jair Bolsonaro, the previous Brazilian president accused of plotting a coup, and referred to as him “a person of God”.
Mr. Mondlane sees Mr. Bolsonaro “as a pioneer,” stated Jonatas Feitosa, a pastor at a conservative evangelical church in Brazil and a good friend of Mr. Mondlane. Mr. Bolsonaro has introduced himself as an antidote to the left-wing celebration that has dominated Brazilian politics for greater than a decade.
Frelimo, which has its roots in communism, has dominated Mozambique for the reason that nation’s independence from Portugal in 1975. However the celebration has since misplaced the belief of many Mozambicans attributable to widespread corruption. The federal government’s violent response to the post-election demonstrations is seen by many as a sign of Frelimo’s determined bid to carry on to energy.
Throughout his presidential marketing campaign, Mr. Mondlan traveled to Portugal, the place he met with Andre Ventura, president of the Chega, the far-right nationalist party which helps stricter immigration measures and fights in opposition to the restitution of former colonies. However Chega has additionally turn out to be an advocate for the working class, like Mr. Mondlane.
Mr. Ventura stated in an electronic mail that his celebration hoped to construct a standard political platform with Mr. Mondlane that will give attention to “combating corruption and crime, defending the household and regulation and order, and addressing the collapse of justice and different establishments “.
Mr. Mondlane has not spoken publicly about his ties to right-wing figures overseas. However in a rustic the place most voters wrestle to search out their subsequent meal or a secure house to stay in, these ties matter little, stated Benjamin Francisco Malate, a 38-year-old businessman.
“The rationale we assist Venancio will not be as a result of he’s on the left or on the correct,” Mr Malate stated. “We simply assist the options that he presents.”
A few of his proposals embrace insurance policies that will require important authorities intervention, akin to constructing three million houses in 5 years and funding companies for youth and ladies.
As he stood in a automobile surrounded by a crowd of 1000’s in Maputo on Thursday, Mr Mondlane stated that if the federal government went forward with the inauguration subsequent Wednesday, the nation would have two presidents. “Who runs this nation?” Mr. Mondlane shouted over the loudspeaker.
“It’s the folks,” answered the group.
Anna Ionova contributed reporting from Rio de Janeiro and Thiago Carrasco from Lisbon.
