Mozambique’s New Parliament Opens Amid Protests and Opposition Boycott

Opposition parties reject election results, call for national strike

Mozambique’s newly elected parliament was inaugurated on Monday, but the event was overshadowed by opposition protests, boycotts, and a heavy police presence in the capital, Maputo. About 250 lawmakers were sworn in as opposition groups called for a nationwide strike, rejecting what they claim were rigged election results.

Opposition Leader Calls for Mass Protests

Opposition leader Venancio Mondlane, a prominent figure among Mozambique’s marginalized youth, has accused the ruling Frelimo party—led by President-elect Daniel Chapo—of manipulating the election results. He urged citizens to demonstrate their opposition through a nationwide strike from Monday to Wednesday, coinciding with Chapo’s swearing-in ceremony.

In response, military police surrounded the parliament building, and security forces blocked key roads. According to reports from AFP, the usually bustling city center was eerily quiet, with businesses shut down and protesters setting up barricades.

Al Jazeera’s Fahmida Miller, reporting from Matola, a known opposition stronghold, described efforts by demonstrators to bring Maputo to a standstill. “People are blocking roads with burning tires and stones to disrupt movement in and out of the capital,” she said.

Parliament Opens Despite Boycotts

During the inauguration, members of the ruling Frelimo party, which secured 171 seats, and the Podemos party, which won 43 seats, took their oaths. However, Renamo’s 28 lawmakers