Opposition leader faces riot damage lawsuit

The Public Prosecutor’s Office in the southern Mozambican province of Inhambane has opened a civil lawsuit against former Presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, blaming him for the destruction of public property during riots by his supporters. According to Club of Mozambique, the Public Prosecutor is demanding that Mondlane pay more than 4m meticais ($63 000) for damage done to roads and other public infrastructure throughout the province during the unrest. Inhambane prosecutor Pompilio Xavier said the lawsuit extended to the Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos) which, at the time of the riots, was supporting Mondlane. Subsequently, Mondlane has broken with Podemos, calling the party’s leaders ‘traitors’. Other damage includes the destruction of two electrical transformers in Inharrime district, the vandalisation of administrative post offices in Homoine, and the destruction of state-owned vehicles in Jangamo. The initial cause of the unrest was the demand for ‘electoral truth’ following accusations of widespread fraud during the general elections of 9 October. But the protesters soon added other demands, calling for a reduction in the cost of living, or for improved water supply or for electrification.

Full report on the Club of Mozambique site