Venâncio Mondlane, Mozambique’s opposition leader has returned home from exile where he had previously been in hiding following October’s disputed presidential election that led to deadly protests.
Mondlane arrived at the main airport in the capital, Maputo, on Thursday morning amid tension and heavy security, but despite this, thousands of people gathered to welcome him.
The opposition politician said he was returning to be closer to the protest movement– one that has seen weeks of nationwide demonstrations in which dozens of people have been killed.
His return is coming ahead of next week’s swearing-in ceremony of president Daniel Chapo, of the ruling Frelimo party, who was declared the winner of October’s poll by the constitutional court.
In his first comments, Mondlane said that he was ready to talk about how to settle the tension over the disputed poll, which he insists was stolen from him.
To prepare for his landing, the airport was heavily secured with police officers actively seen trying to prevent Mondlane’s supporters from reaching the area.
Roads leading to the airport were blocked with security forces barring people from entering the airport unless they had a ticket for a flight.
Mondlane had said his return back to his country was “a unilateral decision” that did not result from any political agreement, still maintaining he won the election and has previously said he would install himself as president on 15 January.
The final official results which was announced by the constitutional court two weeks ago gave Chapo 65% of the vote, with getting only Mondlane 24%.
Rights groups have said that since the October election, waves of protests have left over 270 people including protesters, children and members of the security forces dead.
