By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Mozambique opposition leader Venancio Mondlane has returned from self-imposed exile on Thursday, with thousands gathering to welcome him at Maputo’s airport.
Mondlane has said he will now push his claim that he was the true winner of an October 9 presidential poll.
His return comes ahead of next week’s swearing-in as president of Daniel Chapo, of the ruling Frelimo party, who was confirmed as the winner of October’s poll by the constitutional court.
The final official results from the country’s highest court just over a fortnight ago gave Chapo 65% of the vote and Mondlane, in second place, with 24%.
Frelimo has been in power for the past five decades since independence from Portugal.
Reuters and AFP witnesses reported incidents of police violence toward the crowds in the area as Mondlane returned, with snipers firing rounds and security forces employing tear gas.
“I’m here in the flesh to say that if you want to negotiate … I’m here,” Mondlane, 50, told reporters in a message to the government.
Mondlane went into exile after his lawyer was assassinated on October 19 but continued to hold live online rallies on social media that were watched by thousands of people.
He added that he had come back to speak out against “atrocities” which he said were being committed against his supporters and to defend himself against allegations of criminal responsibility.
He also said he would “continue fighting for this country and preventing the continuation of the current situation.”
“If [the authorities] want they can kill me, but the fight will continue”.
Frelimo has often been accused of rigging elections since Mozambique held its first democratic vote in 1994 following a bloody 15-year civil war Frelimo fought against rebel group Renamo, which is now an opposition party that Mondlane once belonged to before breaking away.