DANIEL Chapo, the presidential candidate from Mozambique’s long-ruling Frelimo party, was officially sworn in as president on Wednesday at a low-key ceremony amid ongoing protests challenging the legitimacy of his election. His inauguration follows months of unrest after the October 9 election, which opposition groups and international observers claim was marred by fraud, according to Reuters.
A local civil society monitoring group reports that more than 300 people have lost their lives in clashes with security forces since the vote. Western election monitors have also criticised the election as neither free nor fair, adding to the widespread discontent. Despite the controversy, Frelimo has denied all allegations of electoral fraud.
A controversial election in a turbulent political landscape
Frelimo has governed Mozambique since 1975, following the country’s independence from Portuguese colonial rule. The party managed to hold onto power throughout a 15-year civil war, which claimed one million lives before the signing of a peace agreement in 1992.
On Wednesday, Chapo addressed a crowd of nearly 1,500 supporters in Maputo, the nation’s capital, where he outlined his vision for political and social stability as a top priority for his administration. He pledged to streamline the government by reducing the number of ministries and promised to focus on job creation for youth, as well as improvements in health and education.
Heavy security presence as opposition rallies continue
Despite Chapo’s calls for stability, Maputo remained largely deserted on the day of the swearing-in, with heavy police and army deployment, according to Reuters correspondents on the ground. The ceremony saw minimal international representation, with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa being one of the few foreign leaders in attendance.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who officially finished second in the presidential race, returned from self-imposed exile last week. Since his return, he has urged his supporters to continue demonstrating against what he describes as a stolen election.
Economic and regional fallout from post-election unrest
The post-election protests have become the largest demonstrations against Frelimo in Mozambique’s history, significantly impacting the country’s economy and foreign investment climate. The unrest has disrupted operations for foreign businesses in the resource-rich nation, affected cross-border trade, and even forced some people to flee into neighbouring countries.
With the political crisis showing no signs of abating, Mozambique faces an uncertain future. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Chapo can unite a deeply divided nation or if the ongoing protests will escalate into further instability.
