The demonstrations, which were called by the former presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane in order to protest against fraudulent election results, started peacefully but then degenerated into rioting and looting. In clashes between protesters and police, over 300 people were shot dead, and around 750 were seriously injured by gunshots, according to “Decide” Electoral Platform, a Mozambican NGO that monitors electoral processes.

Protests, now on a smaller scale, have been taking place in different parts of the country and, their focus has moved away from the election results to the cost of living.

According to Chapo, who was speaking at a ceremony with the diplomatic corps accredited to Mozambique, the demonstrations are similar to the islamist terrorism in the northern province of Cabo Delgado and the 16 year war of destabilisation waged against Mozambique by the Rhodesian and South African racist regimes

“The violent demonstrations that have taken place in Mozambique since October are not related to the election results and, in addition to destabilizing the country, the aim is to install chaos. We have no doubt that these attacks are aimed at creating chaos in order to squander our strategic mineral resources”, Chapo said.

“The post-election crisis, expressed through violent and illegal demonstrations, whose human and material consequences continue to be felt in the country, has nothing to do with election results, as is being proven with each passing day,” stressed Chapo. “The demonstrations are part of an agenda of subversion aimed at destabilising our country. It is a continuation of the terrorist attacks in Cabo Delgado and of the 16-year war that destabilised Mozambique”.

He noted that initially the pretext for rioting was the election results, but now it has switched “to the cost-of-living narrative. Tomorrow, we do not know what the narrative will be. But the objective remains the same: to kill Mozambicans, loot, destroy public and private property, and strangle the economy in an attempt to push the country into collapse,” the President concluded.

Chapo told the diplomats his government is encouraged by the reaffirmation of support “received from our partner friends.” “We are a nation that was born out of centuries old resistance against colonization and the armed struggle for national liberation waged by the Mozambican people”, he said.

He also expressed his commitment to consolidating democracy and the rule of law in Mozambique, building a society of peace, harmony and prosperity.

“That is why we are leading the process of political dialogue with political parties and other living forces in civil society so that, in a constructive, honest, upright and patriotic way, we can overcome the post-election crisis and, as brothers, focus on the reconstruction and development of our country”, he said.

Chapo did not say who he believed is behind the current wave of violence. It is unlikely to be the work just of Venancio Mondlane, who has disowned violence and urged his supporters not to take part in looting and destruction.