By Estacio Valoi
During the most heated period of the protests, the president of the Podemos party, Albino Forquilha, was repeatedly asked if he was aligned with Venâncio Mondlane. Forquilha has said that the 43 MPs elected by Podemos will be sworn in. Secondly, since they are legitimately elected MPs, he sees no reason why they should not be sworn in. But Dinis Tivane, Venâncio Mondlane’s advisor, was quick to publish a video on the social network Facebook saying that “the inauguration of the Podemos party is indeed an act of betrayal, because the people are fighting and are in the streets. What is more, the Podemos party, in our parallel count, has 138 seats. Why is the party rushing to take possession of 43 seats, when the party deserves 138?” In the same video, Tivane discusses the legal implications of the MPs not taking office and denies that this implies the loss of their mandate.
While Albino Forquilha is preparing to take office, as well as rubbing his hands together apparently for a bright future in accordance with Decree No. 28/2020, supposed perks that he had dreamed of but that everything shows that the shot backfired on him in the race for benefits that would range from a salary equivalent to that of the Vice-President of the Assembly of the Republic, monthly subsidies that include support for various expenses, further increasing his income, protocol transport without personal costs associated with official trips, official residence equipped and maintained by the State, offering him comfort and security during his term, Support and security team composed of personal assistants and security, guaranteeing him protection during the exercise of his political functions, Medical assistance for him and his family, Reintegration allowance financial compensation that aims to support him in his transition to civilian life after exercising political functions.
The fact is that prominent members of the Podemos Party are being hunted by death squads.
Rachid Eduardo, a Podemos party delegate in the village of Imtutupue in the Ancuabe district of Cabo Delgado, was fatally shot yesterday by police officers. According to witnesses, two police officers went to the deceased’s home and opened fire. “Two police officers were coming to his home and shot him.”
Assassination attempt on former Renamo guerrilla and current Podemos Party Delegate in Tete
It was around 7:30 p.m. early in the evening on January 5 in Moatize when alleged death squads traveling in a white Hilux van attempted to take the life of General Carlos Barbosa, former Renamo guerrilla and current Podemos Delegate in Moatize.
From sources we learned that the killers stopped in front of Barbosa’s commercial establishment and fired 8 shots at the General who was sitting on the balcony with the lights off.
The general was unharmed ‘not a single shot managed to hit the target, thank God he is fine!
Cases of political persecution, torture and silencing of supporters of opposition parties, with Podemos in particular, reached their prelude on October 19, 2024 with the murder of Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe, legal advisor to presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane and Podemos’ national leader.
The chasing intensified in early January. Abdul Bacar, head of Podemos’ mobilization in the Montepuez district of Cabo Delgado, was shot dead by elements dressed in uniforms identical to those of the local forces, according to witnesses. In Angoche-Nampula, Podemos delegate Ossufo Júlio Mucussete saw his residence set on fire. Since October 2024, with demonstrations in several provinces against the election results, which gave victory to Daniel Chapo, candidate of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo). In the country, clashes between protesters and security forces have already resulted in more than 300 deaths and around 600 injuries. (Moz24h)
