Venancio Mondlane, the leader of the opposition, has urged his followers to stage nonviolent demonstrations between Monday and Wednesday, the day Daniel Chapo is scheduled to take office.

Mondlane asserts that he was elected president and that the elections were manipulated to benefit Chapo’s Frelimo party, which has held the presidency for fifty years.

Renamo and MDM, two opposition parties, declared they would not attend Monday’s session, which will introduce new lawmakers. The Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) took eight seats in the 250-seat house, while Renamo took 28.

Renamo spokesperson Marcial Macome told reporters on Sunday that the opening ceremony “constitutes a social outrage and a lack of respect for the will of Mozambicans” who were denied “free, fair, and transparent” elections.

According to its spokesman, the MDM was boycotting to demonstrate that it supported calls for “electoral truth.”

The Podemos party got 43 seats, while Frelimo won 171.

Supported by the Podemos during the poll, Mondlane asserts that he received 53% of the vote in the presidential contest. According to the official results, he received 24% of the vote, compared to 65% for Chapo.

Last Thursday, Mondlane made his triumphant return to the presidency after more than two months in exile.

At least three people were killed in clashes with police forces after thousands of his supporters gathered in the capital to greet him, according to an election monitor.

The 50-year-old stated in a  Facebook post late Saturday, “We must declare a national strike… paralyze activities during these three days.”

He called for a “peaceful mobilization” and urged followers to “demonstrate our refusal” of the official election result, saying that “if the assembly takes the oath, it is a betrayal of the will of the people.”

“Let us protest against the inauguration of those who stole the people’s will on Wednesday and those who betrayed it on Monday,” Mondlane stated.

Promotion
According to a local rights group, the post-election chaos has killed almost 300 people, and security personnel have been accused of using excessive force, including live bullets, against protesters.

Authorities have also reported the deaths of a few police officers.

Mozambique’s economy has suffered greatly as a result of the turmoil, which has halted cross-border trade and had an impact on manufacturing, mining, and shipping.