Social media restricted in Mozambique as opposition disputes election results

Access to social media in Mozambique was restricted for the second time in a week on Thursday, a global internet watchdog said, as the opposition called for strikes over a disputed presidential election.

“We can confirm social media restrictions have been imposed in Mozambique,” London-based NetBlocks said, adding it affected Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

Opposition figurehead Venancio Mondlane, 50, leader of the small Podemos party, called a nationwide strike from Thursday to November 7 after the ruling Frelimo party’s Daniel Chapo was declared winner of the election.

It was unclear if Mondlane’s call to “paralyse” the country would be followed but the capital Maputo was a ghost city on Thursday.

Police sent out text messages on Wednesday and Thursday, including to an AFP reporter, instructing residents not to participate in acts of “sabotage”.

The public prosecutor also issued a statement saying that while it was a “fundamental right” to protest, “anyone who … causes material or personal damage shall be punished.”

Last week, the electoral commission declared Chapo, 47, winner of the election with 70 percent of votes while Mondlane came in second with 20 percent. Frelimo has been in power for 49 years.

After the results were announced, opposition supporters took to the streets in protests that resulted in clashes with police.

Human Rights Watch said at least 11 people were killed by security forces on October 24 and 25 and more than 50 others were injured.

Election observers, including from the European Union, noted serious flaws before, during and after the vote.

Mondlane and his Podemos party on Sunday seized the country’s Constitutional Court asking for a ballot recount.

The judicial body has since requested results sheets and minutes of polling stations in six provinces and Maputo from the electoral commission, giving them eight days to produce the documents.

AFP