Two relatives of Venancio Mondlane, opponent and candidate for the October 9 presidential election, were killed at point blank range on the night of Friday October 18 to Saturday October 19 in the capital, Maputo. These assassinations take place at a particular time since the country has just come out of important elections. On October 9, 2024, 17 million Mozambicans were called to the polls to elect their deputies, their provincial governors as well as their new president.
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These two assassinations occurred while we are a few days away from the publication of the final results of the general elections At Mozambique. The identity of the two victims is known: they are Elvino Dias, the lawyer of the opponent Venancio Mondlane and Paulo Guamba, a member of the Podemos party, who supported Mondlane’s presidential campaign.
Killed in their car
According to AFP, witnesses said the two men were killed in their car which was stuck in central Maputo. They were seated at the front of the vehicle when two attackers opened fire. Still according to the same witnesses, around 20 bullets were fired. An investigation is open.
Lawyer Elvino Dias was killed while preparing to file a complaint to denounce fraud in the last elections and on his Facebook page he recently expressed concern about a plan to assassinate him.
“ Immense sadness »
The Mozambican Bar Association announces its “ deep shock » and its “ immense sadness » facing « this barbaric and cowardly assassination “. In this same press release, he denounces “ impunity and organized crime which have taken control of institutions » of the country.
“Integridade”, a group of civil society observers, also reacted, believing that this is a “ act of intimidation » as well as a “ clear blow to democracy, truth and electoral justice » in Mozambique.
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