Mozambique's new president, Daniel Chapo, took office Wednesday in a heavily guarded ceremony in the capital Maputo – extending his party's five-decade grip on power amid fierce opposition claims of electoral fraud and threats of continued protests.
Independence Square was under lockdown for the inauguration, with security forces blocking roads and patrolling the area to prevent violence.
As he took the oath of office, Chapo pledged to “defend, promote and consolidate national unity, human rights, democracy and the well-being of the Mozambican people”.
But his presidency starts under a cloud of tension and mistrust.
Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, who claims the 9 October election was rigged in Chapo’s favour, has vowed to paralyse the government with daily demonstrations.
“We’ll protest every single day. If it means paralysing the country for the entire term, we will paralyse it for the entire term,” Mondlane said in a post on Facebook.
The unrest has already claimed more than 300 lives according to civil society group Plataforma Decide, with security forces accused of using excessive force against protesters.
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Unknown 'puppet'
In Maputo, Mondlane supporters are vocal in their rejection of the new president.
“Who is Chapo? I don’t know Chapo. He’s not my president,” said Paulo, a tuk-tuk driver waving a vuvuzela in Maputo's Maxaquene district.
His words reflect widespread uncertainty about a leader who, until recently, was virtually unknown to most Mozambicans.
The 47-year-old entered the ruling Frelimo party without holding elected office, working his way up through administrative roles including heading the gas-rich Palma district in 2015 before becoming governor of Inhambane province.
His selection as Frelimo's presidential candidate came after two days of internal party negotiations.
"As no faction managed to impose itself, they elected a puppet", a former party member told RFI.
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Humble campaign image
Chapo is the first Mozambican president who did not participate in the 1975-1992 civil war. He has sought to portray himself as a man of the people, often referencing his modest upbringing.
“I was born in poverty. I’ve woken up not knowing what I would eat. I’ve sold mangoes in the street to buy paper and pencils,” he said during his campaign.
He also pledged to unite the country, stating on the night of his victory: “We will only be a nation if we know how to listen to each other.”
However, critics argue his affiliation with Frelimo, which has ruled Mozambique since independence in 1975, undermines his credibility as a candidate for change.
“It will be hard for him to win the hearts of Mozambicans as long as he is part of Frelimo,” said political scientist José Lourenço.
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The election has drawn criticism from international observers, with the EU mission condemning what it called the “unjustified alteration of election results”.
Mondlane, who returned from exile last week, remains defiant. “This regime does not want peace,” he declared, blaming authorities for escalating violence.
The absence of many foreign leaders at the inauguration, with the exception of South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, has added to the perception of a tainted presidency.
Several Mozambican civil society organisations have petitioned the African Union not to recognise Chapo's victory.
Meanwhile, Mondlane has expressed openness to dialogue, saying: "I'm here in the flesh to say that if you want to negotiate... I'm here."
(With newswires)
