Mozambique Court Orders Detention of Politician’s Finance Chief

The Maputo City Judicial Court has ordered the detention of Glória Nobre Chire, finance chief of Venâncio Mondlane, amid ongoing political tensions in Mozambique. Mondlane claims Chire is a political prisoner and faced psychological mistreatment during detention. Legal actions against Mondlane follow allegations of inciting violence after disputed election results. Protests have led to numerous deaths and widespread destruction, highlighting the volatile political situation in Mozambique.

The Maputo City Judicial Court has mandated the preventive detention of Glória Monteiro Nobre Chire, the finance chief of Venâncio Mondlane, a notable Mozambican politician. Venâncio Mondlane declared on Facebook that his representative has been unjustly imprisoned, as the reason for her detention remains undisclosed.

Glória Monteiro Nobre Chire was arrested at her residence in Maputo on Wednesday morning. Aline Nobre Chire, one of her daughters, expressed her concern, stating, “I was with her when it happened… It was [an] unprecedented police contingent. We don’t know the reason for the detention.”

During a Facebook livestream, Mondlane accused law enforcement of detaining Chire under severe conditions, claiming she underwent psychological torture. He revealed that her family and legal counsel were barred from contacting her for 48 hours before being presented to an investigating judge. “She was locked up, she couldn’t see her family…without the presumption of innocence,” he remarked.

Currently, Glória, aged 59, works as a financial manager for Mondlane, who is contesting the results of Mozambique’s October 9 elections. The country’s attorney general’s office has initiated legal proceedings against Mondlane, who faces allegations of inciting violence amid recent post-election protests.

Mondlane was interrogated for nearly ten hours by the attorney general’s office regarding eight separate cases, which he described as inquiries concerning his alleged incitement to demonstrations and violence. Despite enduring the extensive questioning, he could not discern the specific charges against him.

Furthermore, the public prosecutor’s office has placed a requirement on Mondlane to regularly report his identity and whereabouts. On November 22, they sought €1.5 million in compensation for destruction purportedly caused by the protests. This lawsuit follows another claim demanding approximately €486,000 for damages in Maputo.

On January 27, the attorney general’s office announced actions against Mondlane for his self-declared ‘presidential decree,’ cited as undermining democratic principles. Despite being named the second candidate in the recent elections, Mondlane spearheads the most substantial legal challenge to these results since Mozambique’s 1994 multiparty elections, which were won by Daniel Chapo, who is now in office.

In light of the protests propagating since October, it has been reported that clashes with police have resulted in over 350 fatalities, including numerous minors, alongside injuries to around 3,500 individuals. The Mozambican government has verified at least 80 deaths and extensive damage, comprising the destruction of over 1,600 commercial properties, 177 educational facilities, and 23 healthcare centers during this period.

The detention of Glória Monteiro Nobre Chire has sparked significant concern about political repression in Mozambique, amid ongoing legal challenges facing Venâncio Mondlane. As demonstrations continue in the wake of contentious election results, the situation remains volatile, posing serious implications for political freedoms and human rights in the nation. The fatalities from the protests serve as a stark reminder of the escalating tensions and the urgent need for dialogue and resolution.

Original Source: clubofmozambique.com