Protesters sing the national anthem in the streets for 15 minutes

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Protesters sing the national anthem in the streets for 15 minutes
Protesters sing the national anthem in the streets for 15 minutes

Africa-Press – Mozambique. The Mozambican anthem was sung again today by hundreds of people in different streets in the centre of Maputo in response to former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane’s call, ending after 15 minutes without incident.

Between Guerra Popular avenue and the city centre, several groups gathered at the scheduled time – 13:00 local time (two hours earlier in Lisbon) – and, hand in hand, with flags, vuvuzelas and whistles, peacefully sang the anthem in front of blocked traffic for 15 minutes, a form of protest that marked the post-election protests, especially in December.

Rogério Zavale joined one of these groups. He also held up improvised placards made from cardboard from old boxes, saying he was complying with the call.

“Venâncio Mondlane told us to sing the national anthem every Friday,” he explained, while Filipe Alberto, who repeatedly sang the anthem during the 15 minutes, added: “It’s about the country, it’s very bad (…) they stole the votes.”

And while the others alternated the anthem with honking horns and anything else that made noise, Filipe Alberto added: “If they don’t deliver, this will never stop.”

In a document released on Tuesday, which he presented as a “decree” and “government measures” for the next 100 days, Venâncio Mondlane, who does not recognise the proclaimed results of the general elections of 9 October, which gave victory to Daniel Chapo – already sworn in as the fifth President of Mozambique – called on the population to join in singing the anthem in the streets for 15 minutes every Friday, starting at 1 p.m., and to stop their activities during this period.

Rashid Salaman joined one of the many groups that formed a circle in Maputo to sing the anthem in the street, claiming that the decision was made by a “presidential decree”.

“We have 15 minutes to sing the anthem. It’s a national decree issued by our president, Venâncio Mondlane (…), who we voted for. There is no other president,” he said.

As the street stopped, Olívia Vali explained her adherence: “We obey what our president says. We want change; we don’t want Chapo.”

Meanwhile, a young man who introduced himself as “Porquilho” alternated the anthem with the usual “Save Mozambique” street calls that have marked more than three months of post-election protests.

“Things are not good,” he lamented, adding: “Killing innocent people, killing our brothers, we don’t want it.”

“We want the well-being of Mozambicans and for everything to return to normal. Because we’re rich, this is Miami, it’s better than Dubai,” said the young “Porquilho”.

At 1.15 p.m., when the time allotted for this action had elapsed, the population almost immediately left the streets, and traffic returned to normal on a Friday that was chaotic in itself in Maputo, with no known incidents in the centre of the capital, despite the police presence.

Since 21 October, Mozambique has been experiencing a climate of strong social unrest, protests, demonstrations and stoppages, called by Venâncio Mondlane, which have degenerated into violence with the police, looting and the destruction of public and private facilities.

According to the elections platform Decide, a non-governmental organisation that monitors electoral processes in Mozambique, at least 315 people have died in these protests, including around two dozen minors, and at least 750 people have been shot.

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