New protests in Mozambique, South Africa border closed

Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane called for a new round of protests starting Wednesday after the electoral authority said the Frelimo party, which has been in power since independence from Portugal in 1975, had won the October 9 election.

Police response to protests over voting that Mondlane claims was fraudulent has already claimed the lives of at least 30 people, according to Human Rights Watch.

Police opened fire on a demonstration in the northern city of Nampula early Wednesday, killing two people, local newspaper Ikweli reported.

There was no confirmation from the authorities, but locals contacted by AFP also said police opened fire on the crowd.

“Around 8:00 in the morning, young people gathered in the Namicopo neighborhood to march towards Nampula city centre,” said civil society activist Ivaldo Nazare.

“However, the police surrounded all the streets in the neighborhood and started shooting at the demonstrators.”

Further south, Mondlane supporters blocked traffic at the Ressano Garcia border, causing dozens of South Africa-bound trucks to back up, AFP reporters said.

“We are closing the border, we are doing everything we can to draw attention so everyone can see what is happening,” Fenias Matavel, one of the protesters, told AFP. he said.

“We want the results to be clear, because the public is tired. We want the truth,” said a young woman who gave her name only as Catarina.

The South African Border Management Authority (BMA) has confirmed it has closed the Lebombo police station opposite Ressano Garcia due to “ongoing and intensifying protest”.

The crossing, about 110 kilometers (68 miles) from Mozambique’s capital Maputo, was also closed intermittently last week due to tensions over post-election violence.

It is an important link for South African exporters to Mozambique’s deep-water ports at Maputo and Matola.

Southern African regional group SADC has called for an extraordinary summit at the weekend to discuss post-election tensions in Mozambique.

Election observers reported irregularities at the polls, and the Constitutional Council of Mozambique demanded an explanation of voter numbers.

The council must certify the election results at least two weeks before President Filipe Nyusi resigns at the end of his two-term term in January and hands over power to Daniel Chapo, the victorious candidate of the Frelimo party.

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