MILLICENT HUNGWE
MAPUTO, Mozambique – Authorities in Mozambique are investigating the killings of two opposition figures, Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe, who were shot dead in the capital city of Maputo on Wednesday.
The attack, which occurred in the Bairro Da Coop neighborhood, has been widely condemned by human rights groups and international organizations, including the European Union and Portugal.
According to Adriano Nuvunga, director of Mozambique’s Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), the two men were “brutally assassinated in a cold-blooded murder” with “around 10 to 15 bullets” fired.
Nuvunga described the killings as a “message” to opposition protesters planning a demonstration on Thursday.
The opposition party, Podemos, and its presidential candidate, Venancio Mondlane, have rejected the provisional election results, which show a likely win for Frelimo, the party that has ruled Mozambique for half a century.
Mondlane’s rise has been seen as a threat not only to Frelimo but also to the former official opposition party, Renamo.
Alex Vines, Africa program director at Chatham House, called the killings a “serious escalation” that raises tensions ahead of the planned protest.
Western observers have expressed concerns about the credibility of the poll, citing reports of vote buying, intimidation, and poor transparency in the vote-counting process.
Frelimo’s candidate, Daniel Chapo, condemned the attack, stating that it is an “affront to the principles of democracy that we must all defend.”
However, many fear that Thursday’s protest could turn violent, given Mozambique’s history of security forces opening fire on protesters.
The full election results are expected to be announced on October 24.
