However, the politician’s team has expressed concern for his safety and the lack of news of his fate.
Officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR) attacked Mondlane’s caravan, opening fire with real bullets and firing tear gas, the statement said, adding that the attack resulted in the death of two children and left 16 people injured, sparking a new wave of demonstrations in the city.
“Faced with the chaos generated by the gunfire, supporters dispersed and, so far, there is no information on Venâncio Mondlane’s whereabouts or his state of health,” the statement added.
During the protest, police shots were heard to disperse the hundreds of people accompanying the former presidential candidate. One member of his entourage was injured.
“We want to announce that from 2025 to 2030, there will be 1,825 days of demonstrations every day. If you don’t do what the people want, you won’t govern in Mozambique,” said Mondlane, who led the largest protest the country has seen since the first elections in 1994.
Political deal
Police were stationed on all the main roads and avenues leading to the Joaquim Chissano Conference Centre, where the political agreement between Mozambican President Daniel Chapo and political parties was inked on Wednesday.
The Optimistic People for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos), the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM), and the New Democracy signed the agreement with the government.
Other parties include the ruling Frelimo, the Democratic Revolution, the Parena, the Pareso and the Pahumo.
Mondlane ran as an independent candidate in last year’s elections, but was backed by Podemos before they fell out after the vote.
The agreement, which excluded Mondlane, focused on state reforms as part of a political dialogue to end the country’s post-election crisis.
President Chapo, who led the deal, said that it would allow Mozambique to become a more inclusive country.
Albino Forquilha, leader of the Podemos party, said that the agreement would help end the cyclical instability in the country.
“As men of good faith and love of country, we cannot normalise the disruption of public order and the movement of people, as this has an impact on daily life,” Mr Forquilha said on behalf of the signatory political parties.
At the protest, Mondlane described the political deal as “an agreement of people without people, an agreement in the name of the people, but the people won’t be there.”
“What will be signed”, he added “is a kind of paper”, he said in front of thousands of people in the Magoanine neighbourhood.
At least 353 people have died and around 3,500 have been injured in protests since October, according to Decide, a non-governmental organisation that monitors the electoral process.
The government confirmed only 80 deaths and the destruction of 1,677 commercial establishments, 177 schools and 23 health centres as a result of the post-electoral chaos.
