The Mozambican government announced March 5, 2025 as a "Day of Dialogue," with President Daniel Chapo signing an agreement with all political parties represented in parliament to resolve the post-election crisis.

However, that day turned out quite differently than what Chapo had hoped for: violent clashes broke out during a protest march, which were met by the usual police brutality, which has become symptomatic in recent months. 

The rallies were led by former presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane and thousands of his supporters. Since Mondlane had not been invited to partake in the "Day of Dialogue," he called for a "peaceful walk" through some of Maputo's poorer neighborhoods in protest instead. This, however, clearly escalated.

Mondlane continues to accuse the ruling FRELIMO party of election fraud to this day, and considers himself the true winner of the presidential election held on October 9, 2024.

The opposition politician said before that if he is not invited to such an exchange, the people of Mozambique equally are not included, announcing "daily protests over the next five years" in response.

Police brutality during 'peaceful' march

The police forcibly dispersed the demonstration, with security forces using tear gas and live ammunition against the crowds, which included Venancio Mondlane himself. 

At least 16 people, including two children, sustained injuries including a member of Mondlane's entourage, according to the non-governmental organization "Plataforma Decide," which has been observing the election results and their aftermath. 

Mondlane himself has disappeared from public view since that they; his team has stated publicly that they do not know his current whereabouts.

"This was another barbaric act against a group of citizens who were simply walking peacefully," Dinis Tivane, Venancio Mondlane spokesperson, told DW. 

Wilker Dias from the "Plataforma Decide" NGO confirmed that "there was absolutely no reason for the police to shoot at the people. The demonstration was extremely peaceful, and there was no sign of violence or danger."

Mozambique's divided political landscape

FRELIMO has ruled Mozambique since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975. The former Marxist liberation organization is now spearheaded by Daniel Chapo, who follows President Filipe Nyusi after the latter exhausted his two term limits.

Seen as somwhat of a political novice by his opponents, Chapo has tried to use a reconciliatory rhetoric, which his opponents however say he has failed to follow through with measurable actions. 

Mozambique’s opposition meanwhile is still led by Mondlane, who is seen as a charismatic figure by many people in the country — especially among the poor. But there are winds of change, as least in the political structures:

Mondlane, who has previously worked as a pastor in an evangelical free church, was long involved in RENAMO — the former rebel movement that fought against FRELIMO's one-party autocracy after the country's independence.

When he applied for the leadership of RENAMO in 2023 ahead of the then-upcoming election, he was excluded from the candidacy for internal, formal reasons. 

Mondlane then went on to start his own coalition known as the "Coligacao Alianca Democratica" (CAD), which however was excluded from theelections by the National Election Commission, partly due to alleged irregularities in the submission of support signatures.

In the presidential election of October 9, 2024, Mondlane therefor ran as an independent candidate, who was eventually supported by the opposition party "PODEMOS" ("Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique").
However, according to the disputed official count, “PODEMOS" only managed to gain just over 24% of the vote.

A new party to the rescue?

Since the election, Mondlane has issued claims saying that "PODEMOS" was "bought" by the government after the party's chairman, Albino Forquilha, eventually ordered the recognition of the official election result. 

He has since been calling for a new party to be establish, and that new party is already in the works: Mondlane has launched the "National Alliance for an Autonomous and Free Mozambique" (ANAMALALA), however amid significant obstacles, according to supporters. 

Castro Niquina, a member of the founding commission of the new party in northern Mozambique, reported particular problems in the Nampula province with notaries who charged a fee per signature, despite the process being required to be free according to the law. 

These and other "irregularities" have greatly complicated the founding of the new party, Niquina said in an interview with DW.

Political analyst Sismo Eduardo Muchaiabande nevertheless believes that Mondlane could challenge FRELIMO in the next election with a new party, if things go according to plan: 

"The people have lost faith in the traditional parties. People are now looking to Venancio Mondlane. The party he is founding will — due to his personality — certainly attract many supporters," Muchaiabande said.

However, this will likely only become evident in the next general elections, which are only due to be held in 2029. 

Amos Fernando contributed to this article
Edited by: Sertan Sanderson