Venâncio Mondlane accuses Frelimo of using security forces to intimidate opposition

Venâncio Mondlane, leader of the National Alliance for a Free and Autonomous Mozambique (Anamola) and former presidential candidate, has accused the ruling Frelimo party of utilizing the country’s Defence and Security Forces (FDS) to intimidate opposition groups.

Mondlane’s allegations follow a confrontation in Quelimane, Zambézia province, during a march marking Anamola’s first anniversary. Police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, leading to panic and gas inhalation among participants near a local health facility. While police claimed the intervention was necessary because supporters damaged a vehicle, Mondlane disputed this by displaying the vehicle to challenge the official account.

Mondlane characterized the police as being forced to follow political orders due to Frelimo’s declining public support, asserting that the ruling party is increasingly relying on force to maintain authority. His political trajectory has been marked by significant involvement in local and national elections, including a notable performance in the 2023 municipal elections in Maputo.