The Anamola party disclosed that it has recorded 57 cases of members and structures victims of lethal violence since its creation. The party spokesperson, Alberto Manhique, reported this number during a press conference held in Maputo.
The total number of murdered members rose to 57 following the death of Ilídio Facitela Gustavo last Saturday. This case adds to 436 other incidents classified as 'extreme violence' against the party. Previously, Venâncio Mondlane had filed a complaint with the Attorney General's Office (PGR) in May, alleging political persecution.
Ilídio Facitela Gustavo, who served as the Political Mobilization Coordinator for Anamola in the district of Morrumbene, in the province of Inhambane, died on Saturday. His body was found in the district of Homoíne. Anamola has already requested a swift and impartial investigation to hold those responsible for this crime accountable.
In light of this new case of 'brutal assassination,' the party demanded an investigation into the reported incidents. It was highlighted that Ilídio Facitela Gustavo was a witness in ongoing legal proceedings related to post-electoral demonstrations against Venâncio Mondlane, who will be tried by the Mozambican Supreme Court.
Alberto Manhique questioned what happens when a witness is silenced or eliminated, arguing that justice loses a voice because the witness would have much to clarify in court. He criticized the State, accusing it of being incapable of protecting lives or preventing political persecution. Anamola emphasized the need for strict adherence to the law and the protection of all Mozambican citizens, calling for direct intervention from the head of state to stop these deaths.
The Decide platform, a Mozambican NGO, also classified the murder of Ilídio Facitela as 'serious,' given that he was about to testify in the case against Mondlane. The NGO registered at least 40 victims of 'political violence and disproportionate use of force' by the police between May and September. In its statement, the organization stressed that this data reinforces the urgency of an institutional response that goes beyond reacting to isolated cases, seeking to identify patterns, hold those involved accountable, and prevent the recurrence of these acts.
Venâncio Mondlane had previously denounced the homicide of another Anamola member, stating that the victim was part of the list of witnesses he intended to present in the judicial process he faces at the Supreme Court. On Friday, the Supreme Court communicated the possibility of postponing the start of Mondlane's trial, originally scheduled for October 6, due to a defense request citing 'scheduling conflicts.' The criminal case was initiated by the Public Prosecutor's Office in the context of post-electoral demonstrations, and Mondlane is accused of public advocacy of crime, incitement to collective disobedience, public incitement to commit crimes, incitement to terrorism, and terrorism incitement, charges that could result in more than 20 years of effective imprisonment.