The lawyer of a prominent opposition figure in Mozambique has been shot dead in the capital Maputo, along with an official from the same party.
Elvino Dias is the lawyer of Venâncio Mondlane, who ran for president of Mozambique representing the Podemos political party in the election 10 days ago.
Dias died along with fellow Podemos official Paulo Guambe when gunmen attacked their vehicle.
“They were brutally assassinated [in a] murder in cold blood,” said local human rights group Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD).
“Signs [are] About 10 to 15 bullets were fired and they died instantly,” said Adriano Nuvunga, the group’s director.
Another organization, election watchdog Mais Integridade, said the killings were designed to intimidate anyone demanding transparency in elections.
One of the victims, Dias, died instantly, but witnesses said the other, Guambe, succumbed to his injuries several hours later, and alleged that police blocked his evacuation with an ambulance arrived at the scene to assist them.
Witnesses also alleged that police censored and intimidated them, prevented them from recording the violence, and confiscated and damaged several phones.
Police denied any wrongdoing and said they would take all necessary measures to prevent any acts of vandalism, violence or public disorder in the coming days.
“Naturally, we condemn this heinous crime and ensure that we are taking all measures to clarify the case,” police spokesman Lionel Muchina said on Saturday.
Tributes have been paid to Dias, who was described by news website Carta de Moçambique as a “sharp, fearless lawyer with the tough character of a warrior”.
“Elvino is a good and peaceful person,” said Zenaido Machado, of Human Rights Watch.
“Last year, in the local elections, he led several election court cases against the election commission and he won. This year, he is preparing to do it once again.”
Election votes are still being counted in Mozambique. Mondlane said he had won and disputed the establishment Frelimo party’s claim that it was leading. He called for a nationwide strike on Monday.
The European Union, which has an observer mission in Mozambique monitoring the election process, called the killing an outrageous crime and called on the government to launch an independent investigation.
The European bloc said the events followed “worrying reports of violent dispersal of supporters following last week’s election”.
Western observers have cast doubt on the election’s credibility.
Vote buying, high voter turnout in Frelimo strongholds and voter intimidation were reported by the US-based International Republican Institute, which sent an official delegation Multinational election surveillance comes to Mozambique.
Mozambique has historically been ruled by just one party – Frelimo – which has governed the southern African nation for half a century since gaining independence from Portugal.
The country is assured of a new president as President Filipe Nyusi is about to step down after completing his two terms.
His successor, the leader of Frelimo, is Daniel Chapo, 47 years old.
His opponents in this election are Mondlane of Podemos, Ossufo Momade, a former rebel commander turned leader of the main opposition party Renamo, and Lutero Simango from the Mozambican Democratic Movement.
A civil war between the Frelimo government, with support from Cuba and the Soviet Union, and the anti-communist Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) rebels took place from 1977 to 1992.
The conflict left more than a million people dead in the war and subsequent famine.
Renamo remains the largest opposition party in Mozambique and was the springboard for Mondlane’s political career before he defected to the newly formed Podemos earlier this year.
Mozambique is rich in natural resources including rubies and gas but is also struggling with an Islamist insurgency in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. Soldiers from dozens of countries have been deployed to help.
Additional reporting by Natasha Booty
