Last night, Venâncio Mondlane, leader of the Optimistic People for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos) party, called for no violence or disruption in the coming days.

The call was made during his highly anticipated Turbo V8 protest phase announcement.

Mondlane announced a period of mourning that will commence on Thursday and end on Sunday. He told his followers to resume all activities as normal, without any demonstrations, but to wear black or white in line with their mourning tradition. With this action, followers will honour the many lives lost during the protests and Mondlane specifically mentioned the recent Ressano Garcia incidents. It will further illustrate solidarity with the communities of Cabo Delgado that were hit by Cyclone Chido this week.

Followers were requested to sing the national anthem and pray between 13:00 and 13:15 during this period. From Friday to Sunday, Mondlane called on mosques, churches and temples to pray for justice in Mozambique.

Read more: Mozambique: Weekend violence precedes Turbo V8 protest phase announcement

The Constitutional Council is scheduled to make an announcement on the validity of the October elections on Monday, December 23. In anticipation thereof, Mondlane told followers to blow vuvuzelas and whistles between 09:00 and 10:00 on Sunday.

He said all activities and movements in the country should halt on Monday to listen to Dr Lúcia Ribeiro, the president of the Constitutional Council, who will read the final decree. Health personnel, lawyers and patients are exempt from this rule.

Monday’s outcome will determine the severity of Turbo V8 and Mondlane stressed that the council will prove whether they believe the truth or lies. The future of Mozambique will be in the hands of the seven members of the council who will determine a direction of peace or chaos.

Mondlane said he will take office on January 15, 2025, as president of Mozambique and will, with immediate effect, suspend the collection of tolls, logging and mining operations and the collection of customs duties from informal cross-border female traders.

Mondlane’s Facebook Live speech was watched by over a million people and had 147 000 reactions.

On Sunday night, Mondlane led a virtual discussion with victims and representatives of families who were affected by police brutality. The theme, ‘Conversation and prayer for the victims of state terrorism’, was moderated by psychologist Cremildo Chichongue, who spoke to victims, relatives and human rights activists such as Quitéria Guirengane, Wilker Dias and journalist Nádio Taimo.

Taimo claimed that police have used unnecessary force that included shooting at civilians, performing home invasions and ‘killing activists’ like the blogger Mano Shottas.

Dias spoke virtually from Den Hague and committed to escalating the alleged violations to the international courts and demanding the release of political prisoners.

Mozambicans voiced their solidarity with their countrymen in Berlin over the weekend. The message was delivered at the offices of the federal president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

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