Fork will be at Mondlane's trial: “I will say what I saw”

Qused by journalists in the margins of the formation of MPs of the Party of the Optimist People for the Development of Mozambique (We can), its president, Albino Forquilha, said it was “difficult” to state whether he would support Mondlane in the ongoing proceedings, with the trial already marked by the Supreme Court (TS).

“It is a judicial process, therefore, there is no way [to support], if I have proof of your innocence I will deliver, if I have (...) I will be there as a declarant to say what I have seen and what I have not seen. Is it support or not? I don't know. But from this trial I will be present, I was also notified ", said Albino Forquilha.

The president of the Mozambican opposition party who, in 2024, supported Mondlane’s presidential candidacy, said that there are “hundreds” of people arrested and responding to justice in the context of the post-election protests, arguing that it is time for Mondlane also to answer the prosecution of the Public Prosecutor (MP).

“There are many Mozambicans arrested to answer for the demonstrations and, therefore, Venâncio, if he was also called at this time, will also respond, as everyone responds, and there whether or not to prove his innocence”, added Forquilha.

According to the prosecution order that Lusa had access to, the evidence is largely based on appeals to contest, strikes, paralysis and mobilization for protests by Mondlane through live broadcasts on social networks.

The MP imputes to the politician the crimes of public apology to crime, incitement to collective disobedience, public instigation to the practice of crime, instigation to terrorism and incitement to terrorism, in a criminal framework that can exceed the 20 years of effective imprisonment.

Venâncio Mondlane, presidential candidate in 2024, never recognized the election results of this vote, which gave the victory to Daniel Chapo, candidate of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), but, as provided for by the Constitution, in September 2025, as the second most voted candidate, took office as a member of the Council of State, advisory body of the President of the Republic, whose members enjoy immunity.

The Mozambican Council of State suspended Mondlane's immunity to allow the prosecution to continue.

Mondlane, who also publicly shared the deliberation, classifies it as “nil”, arguing that the Council of State “does not have legal competence to suspend the immunity of its members”, may only “deliberate on the suspension of the member for the purpose of following a criminal case and not on the withdrawal of immunity”.

Mozambique lived, between October 2024 and March 2025, a period of strong social unrest marked by demonstrations and stops called by Mondlane, who rejects the election results that gave the victory to Daniel Chapo.

According to non-governmental organizations, more than 400 people died in clashes related to the protests, which also caused destruction of public and private heritage, looting and other acts of violence.