Africa-Press – Mozambique. ProPública on Friday called on the Mozambican authorities to clarify the murder, nine months ago in Maputo, of lawyer Elvino Dias, who will posthumously receive the Nelson Mandela Award on Friday from the Portuguese law and citizenship association.
“We urge the Mozambican authorities, and in particular the Attorney General, to take steps to identify the perpetrators and instigators of this outrageous crime and to ensure justice, independence and freedom for Mozambican lawyers,” reads the message from ProPública president Agostinho Pereira de Miranda, addressed to the private ceremony for the posthumous award, taking place today in Maputo.
Elvino Dias, known in Mozambique as the “people’s lawyer” for his social causes and support for the most disadvantaged, died on the night of 18 October 2024 in an ambush, according to the police, who, nine months later, continue to withhold explanations or suspects for the crime, which has since been linked to political motives.
At the time, he served as legal advisor to presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane. While he drove through the centre of Maputo, two vehicles intercepted his car, and armed men emerged, firing dozens of shots that fatally wounded Elvino Dias, 45, and Paulo Guambe, representative of Podemos. This party supported the candidate in the October general elections. Even today, that central location is marked with stones and sometimes flowers, commemorating the double homicide.
In May, the association ProPública – Direito e Cidadania announced that the Mozambican Bar Association (OAM) will present Elvino Dias with the 2025 Nelson Mandela Prize for his work in Mozambique on Friday, International Nelson Mandela Day.
“Elvino Dias distinguished himself in the defence of human rights and gave his life in the struggle for the public good, justice and freedom. Elvino Dias’ voice is no longer heard, but his example of courage, independence and integrity will continue to inspire lawyers in Mozambique and around the world,” added the president of ProPública in his message to today’s ceremony.
The president of the OAM, Carlos Martins, said in May that the award to lawyer Elvino Dias recognised his work as a “fighter” for democracy and the rule of law: “Because he fought his battle in the courts. That was his stage, in the courts.”
“He leaves us with a substantial legacy. He taught us where to fight, but above all, he taught us three values: the value of truth, the value of law and the value of justice. He leaves a great lesson for the entire profession, which is that we must fight for what each of us believes in. And he believed, he pursued his ideals to the end, and that cost him his life,” added Carlos Martins.
The president of the OAM argued at the time that the awarding of the prize by ProPública, a private association established in 2020 to defend the public interest, should put pressure on the authorities to explain what had happened.
“A prompt investigation will clarify the motives behind the murder of our colleague,” he said.
On 23 October, thousands of people gathered at the cemetery in Michafutene, on the outskirts of Maputo, shouting “justice” and “lawyer of the people” at the emotional funeral of Elvino Dias.
The double murder shocked Mozambican society and marked the beginning of post-election protests led by Venâncio Mondlane, who left the country three days later, citing fears for his safety, and only returned to Maputo in January. The street protests, which led to clashes with the police, looting, and destruction of public buildings and equipment, as well as businesses, left nearly 400 people dead in about five months.
The Nelson Mandela Prize honoured the lawyers Francisco Teixeira da Mota (2021), Leonor Caldeira (2022), Maria Clotilde Almeida and Paula Penha Gonçalves ’ex aequo’ (2023) and Garcia Pereira (2024) in the four previous editions.
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