Mozambican protesters kept up the heat for weeks on the ruling party they say stole elections in October, inspired by charismatic opposition leader Venancio Mondlane who mounted a formidable social media campaign from a hiding place abroad.Known simply by his first name, the 50-year-old former MP and media commentator has vowed to return home Thursday to continue his fight in person after fleeing when his lawyer was gunned down shortly after the vote. In more than two months of self-exile, he has parlayed his media skills into a formidable online presence.Regular live videos fuel support for his rejection of the October 9 election results, which he says were rigged in favour of the ruling Frelimo party in power for 50 years.Via social media from an unknown location, he has announced waves of protests that have bought cities to a standstill and halted business at ports and border posts at great cost to the economy.Around 300 people have been killed in nearly three months of violence, most of them opposition demonstrators shot by security forces, according to local NGOs, but also some police. Often in a three-piece suit and always with a perfectly styled afro, Mondlane comes across as warm and familiar as he speaks of the inequalities and frustrations in his impoverished country, touching on issues that resonate with a youth that feels marginalised. A forthright speaker, his searing criticism of Frelimo has endeared him to many who believe that poverty is deepening while the party faithful have pocketed riches.After an 11-year rise through opposition politics, Mondlane poses the biggest challenge to Frelimo since it took power after independence from Portugal in 1975, Maputo-based political analyst Johann Smith told AFP.Previously, “they decided and shared power on their terms. After every election, they put the cake down and they cut it up,” the analyst said.”But for the first time, someone told them, ‘No, I do not want 20 percent, that cake is mine’.”- Man in the street -Mondlane is the most “charismatic political figure” in Mozambique, Smith said. “He speaks to the man in the street,” he added. “He uses terms they understand.”His pre-election rallies drew boisterous crowds of young people who felt abandoned by Frelimo.”If today they are marginalised, it is because someone marginalised them,” he once thundered.Mondlane pledged to tackle endemic corruption, revamp the economy and combat jihadist attacks that have plagued the gas-rich nation.The October election saw him oust the Renamo party of former rebels as the main political opposition. He insists that he also beat Frelimo in the vote, which international observers say was marred by irregularities.Mondlane — no family connection to Mozambican independence hero Eduardo Mondlane — was brought up in Matola, the country’s most populous city, on the outskirts of the capital Maputo.He made a name for himself around 15 years ago as a political commentator on a private television station, and later stood for mayor of Maputo in an election also marred by claims of vote rigging.For the presidential election, he ran with the Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos), proving wrong the predictions that he would fail without a major party’s backing.Even in exile, he commanded attention at home, issuing messages and instructions to his followers in highly anticipated addresses on social media.One of his Facebook lives had more than 2.4 million views.And, like other social media influencers, he has a trademark signoff: “big hug, a kiss and goodbye.”
Thu, 09 Jan 2025 03:26:52 GMT
