Mozambique to get new president amid protests

A “national strike” is being threatened as Mozambique's president-elect is sworn in on Wednesday, more than three months after disputed elections.

Daniel Chapo, who is 48, took 65% of the votes in a poll that opposition leaders and election observers said it was doctored.

The result sparked a wave of demonstrations – some peaceful but others violent – that led to chaos, including killings and vandalism.

Chapo's biggest rival is Venâncio Mondlane. Last week, he returned from exile alone. He spent time in South Africa where he says he survived an assassination attempt.

He is now asking Mozambicans to take to the streets, again, on the day of the dedication “against the thieves of the people”.

Mozambique's two main opposition parties – Renamo and MDM – say they are boycotting Wednesday's swearing-in ceremony because they also do not recognize Chapo as the rightful winner.

Even those in Mozambique who want the president to be well-elected are questioning his legitimacy.

“Chapo is someone I admire a lot,” civil society activist Mirna Chitsungo told the BBC.

“I worked with him for four years – I know how willing he is to be involved, how open he is to communicate, and how willing he is to follow suggestions from civil society.

“However, he accepts illegitimate power. This comes from an illegal election process… He takes power in a context where people do not accept him.”

'He will face many enemies'

In addition to winning over a hostile public, Chapo must also deliver the economic revolution and stop corruption that he promised on the campaign trail.

“Chapo will have many enemies because Mozambique is apparently run by cartels, including book cartels, pharmaceutical cartels, sugar cartels, drug cartels, kidnapping cartels, mafia groups,” said the analyst and investigative journalist Luis Nhanchote.

“He must have a strong team of experts, willing to join him in this crusade of carefully removing the gangs,” he said.

“But first, he must calm Mozambicans and do everything in his power to restore peace in the country.”

Daniel Francisco Chapo was born on January 6, 1977 in Inhaminga, a town in the Sofala region, the sixth of 10 siblings. This was during the Mozambique civil war, and the armed conflict forced his family to move to another area nearby.

His high school in the coastal town of Beira was followed by a law degree from Eduardo Mondlane University and then a master's degree in development management from the Catholic University of Mozambique.

Now married to Gueta Sulemane Chapo, with whom he has three children, Chapo is also said to be a churchgoing Christian and a fan of basketball and football.

Many current and former colleagues describe Chapo as a humble, hardworking and patient leader.

Daniel Chapo celebrates his victory with supporters in Maputo in December. They wear red, the color of his Frelimo party. Two women put their arms around the politician and make the 'peace' sign with their hands. — With Daniel Chapo (centre) Frelimo extends its 50-year run as the only party to have ruled Mozambique since independence (AFP)

Before becoming the ruling Frelimo party's presidential candidate, he had been a radio and television host, a legal notary, a university lecturer and a regional governor before rising to the post of secretary general Frelimo.

Speaking on his recent birthday, Chapo himself acknowledged the daunting challenge that awaited him as president.

“We need to recover our country economically … it is easy to destroy, but to build is not an easy task. “

National reconciliation, creating more jobs, electoral law reform and decentralization of power are at the top of his agenda, he said.

But how successful can it be without the country behind it?

At the very least it will mark a change from outgoing President Felipe Nyusi, who Ms Chitsungo says many Mozambicans will be happy to see behind.

“Chapo is a figure of dialogue and consensus, not one to endure Nyusi's violent style of governance. He has the ability to negotiate with Mondlane.

“Although Chapo may not satisfy all of Mondlane's requests, I believe he could fulfill at least 50% of them,” said Ms. Chitsungo.

Mondlane – a part-time minister and independent candidate who claims to be the real winner of the polls – is said to be sheltering in one of the capital's hotels. It is not known what security protection he has there, or who will pay for it.

He claims that a nearby vendor was shot while he was visiting a market in Maputo last week. echoing the murders of two of his aides in October.

As the mastermind of nationwide protests against the controversial election result, he has come to be seen by many as a voice for the voiceless. However, at the moment, the president's camp is not publicly engaging with him.

Nevertheless, listening to the complaints and demands of the public, and sometimes ignoring the orders of his governing party Frelimo, will be crucial to Chapo's success, analysts told the BBC.

Finding some way to constructively engage with Mondlane would be a boost, it seems.

Venancio Mondlane arrives outside the building of the building at Maputo International Airport with a white garland around him and surrounded by journalists and supporters. — Venâncio Mondlane is the biggest thorn in the president's side (Reuters)

By winning the public, Chapo may also need “a fat salary for the elite and fringe benefits, some of which are 10 times higher than Mozambique's minimum wage”, argues Mr Nhachote.

In addition, if Chapo has any chance of ending the general political crisis, he will need the support of others to make lasting structural change, he argues that the famous cleric Rev. Anastacio Chembeze.

“Perhaps we should doubt one person to solve Mozambique's challenges – change must start within the system itself.

“We should be trying to separate powers within the state apparatus, the international monopolies have big interests in the country, and we have serious ethical problems within the political elites to deal with. “

Once in office it is recommended that Chapo dismiss the country's Chief of Police Bernadino Rafael, analysts have told the BBC. He denies any wrongdoing but some see him as a genius in his brutal response to the post-election protests.

They say they want a replacement that “respects human rights” and follows legal and international standards. Another suggestion that analysts have floated is to bring in a new attorney general.

In particular, Chapo is the first president of Mozambique who did not fight in the war of independence.

“He is part of the new generation. Part of his background is completely different from those who came before him – he was born in a country that was liberated by them,” said Mr Nhachote.

“If he wants to make a real mark on history, he has to challenge the images of the past. If he can't (manage that), I'm sure he will only run for one term.”