Epigraph
Therefore, daily and hourly, the politician inwardly has to overcome a
quite trivial and all-too-human enemy: a quite vulgar vanity, the
deadly enemy of all matter-of-fact devotion to a cause, and of all
distance, in this case, of distance towards one's self. (Weber, 1970, p.
106).
Content
Chapter 1
Historical-Factual Description: From the National Figure 4
to the Lusophone Figure
Chapter 2
Sociological Reasons Behind the Rise in Visibility of 10
Venâncio Mondlane
Chapter 3
Exceptional Historical Facts 14
CHAPTER 1
1. Historical-Factual
Description: From the National
Figure to the Lusophone Figure
The figure of Venâncio Mondlane has
become a subject of analysis in
science, art, music, technology,
communication, and daily life. From
2023 to 2024, literary and scientific
works, national and international
newspapers, television and radio
programs in Mozambique and the
diaspora were captivated by the
political and social enigma inherent in
Venâncio Mondlane's personality,
popularly nicknamed VM7.
In a nation with 11 provinces, 154
districts, 43 languages over 80 ethnic
sub-groups, more than 60 political parties, and over 32 million
inhabitants, being honored as "Figure of the Year" is a phenomenon of
scientific relevance, particularly in political sociology. Weber's
theoretical-conceptual framework is fitting for understanding the
nuances that emerge in the socio-political sphere.
Within the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP),
consisting of nine Member States—Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-
Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Portugal, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe,
and Timor-Leste—being elected as "Lusophone Figure of the Year" is a
reality that sparks analytical curiosity.
4
CHAPTER 1
1.1. Relevant Historical Precedent: Figure of the Year 2023
In the Jornal Evidências, dated December 26, 2023, Venâncio Mondlane
was proposed as one of the Figures of the Year alongside Samora
Machel Júnior (son of President Samora Machel and a professional
politician), Severino Ngoenha (a renowned Professor of African
Philosophy with international recognition), Salomão Muchanga (founder
of the Youth Parliament and President of the New Democracy Party),
and João Chamusse (a career journalist known for his boldness in
national media, who was killed under unclear circumstances following
the 2023 Municipal Elections).
In the Jornal SAVANA on December 29, 2023, Venâncio Mondlane was
recognized as an indispensable figure. The description of his skills
highlighted his political engagement, rhetoric, and knowledge as
qualities that distinguish him as a phenomenal politician.
On Rádio Terra 90.0 FM, also on December 29, 2023, a debate was held
on the Figure of the Year, where Venâncio Mondlane was the listeners’
favorite. The discussion was conducted via an open line, allowing each
participant to nominate the most prominent political-historical figure.
In 2023, following a massive fraud orchestrated by electoral bodies
(STAE, CNE, and CC) to fulfill Frelimo’s Municipal Agenda—evidence of
which was presented through the parallel count conducted by
Venâncio Mondlane’s IT Team, Integrity Plus observers, political parties,
and members of District Courts—Venâncio Mondlane became
recognized as the Mobilizer of the immobilized people of Maputo. As
outlined in Das Letras (2024), he led a peaceful march to restore
electoral truth and justice, under the slogan “Rescue Maputo”.
Lacking sufficient political-social ammunition to rescue Maputo,
Venâncio Mondlane turned to an Internal Candidacy within his party,
5
CHAPTER 1
Renamo. However, the doors were closed in his face, with the claim of a
lack of the required profile. Believing in a political and legal miracle, he
turned to the justice system to clarify the political-party violations of
the principles that uphold a Democratic Rule of Law. Without success,
Venâncio Mondlane felt coerced into running as an Independent
Candidate, securing signatures beyond the required threshold and
supported by the Democratic Alliance Coalition (CAD).
Once again, the electoral bodies turned their backs on him, illegally
denying the CAD’s right to run in the election. Like an athlete driven by
political passion, Venâncio Mondlane found an unexpected door. The
strategy to sideline him from the electoral race backfired. He turned to
the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (PODEMOS) to
provide him with support.
After the voting on October 9, 2024, during the VII General Presidential
and Legislative Elections and the IV Provincial Assemblies Elections
(including the Governor election) in Mozambique, Venâncio Mondlane
emerged victorious in the Presidential Election and PODEMOS secured
the highest number of parliamentary seats.
According to the official results of the overall tally from the October 9,
2024 general elections, including presidential, legislative, and provincial
assembly elections, FRELIMO secured 195 seats in parliament. Its
presidential candidate was elected with 70.67% of the votes. The
Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (PODEMOS), which
supported Venâncio Mondlane’s presidential candidacy, elected 31
deputies. The Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo) fell from 60
to 20 deputies. The Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM)
dropped from six to four deputies.
Daniel Chapo, the candidate supported by the Mozambique Liberation
6
CHAPTER 1
Front (FRELIMO, in power), won with a total of 4,912,762 votes. Venâncio
Mondlane came in second place, with 20.32%, totaling 1,412,517 votes.
Ossufo Momade received 403,591 votes (5.81%). Lutero Simango
accumulated 223,066 votes (3.21%).
Contesting these results, Venâncio Mondlane initiated a gradual series
of social protests against the fraud, demanding the restoration of
electoral truth and justice. The protests are having impacts at all social,
political, economic, cultural, technological, human, and many other
levels.
Venâncio Mondlane's contestation is based on the Parallel Count
carried out by his team, equipped with devices, minutes, and records,
where in the presidential election he obtained 53.38%, followed by
Daniel Chapo with 35.66%, Ossufo Momade with 6.04%, and finally,
Lutero Simango with 4.92%. In the legislative elections, the map shows
138 parliamentary seats for PODEMOS, 91 for FRELIMO, 12 for RENAMO,
and 7 for MDM. These figures contrast with the data presented by the
CNE (National Election Commission) under highly controversial
conditions. In fact, the CNE itself, in its official announcement,
acknowledged discrepancies in data, fake minutes, and ballot stuffing.
1.2. National and Lusophone Figure of 2024
With the national and international impact of the political-social
protests, Venâncio Mondlane became the center of academic debates,
the subject of daily conversations, the theme of political discussions,
the image of mass media outlets, the ghost of the FRELIMO supporters,
and the hero of the people. Venâncio Mondlane’s figure became an icon
of social representations, poetic speeches, heroic and revolutionary
gestures, in all fields.
On December 16, 2024, the Ngani newspaper hailed Venâncio Mondlane
7
CHAPTER 1
as the Figure of the Year 2024 in Mozambique. In this publication, his
political and humanitarian virtues are described, his stance as a hero of
the people, defender of human rights, and promoter of democratic legal
principles for the liberation of society, hence his patriotic motto "Este
País é Nosso" ("This Country is Ours") and the imperative slogan of
combat "Salve Moçambique" ("Save Mozambique").
In October 2024, Das Letras (2024) presented data illustrating
Venâncio Mondlane as the third most charismatic political leader in
Mozambique, after Samora Machel and Afonso Dhlakama. This
sociological essay was based on posters and videos recorded during
the marches in protest against electoral fraud in the City of Maputo,
focusing on Venâncio Mondlane’s speeches and the expressions and
actions of the participants.
After the book was made available to the public, foreign documentaries
were recorded about the political-social qualities of this figure.
On December 7, 2024, Índico Magazine published an article about the
election of Venâncio Mondlane as the Lusophone Personality of the
Year by the Lusa Agency. His political cause, commitment to restoring
electoral truth and justice, and his engagement in favor of new
opportunities for an oppressed and excluded people within the
bourgeois system elevated him as a figure of the Lusophone world,
recognized by other political actors and social activists as a bold and
promising politician.
8
CHAPTER 2
2. Sociological Reasons Behind the
Rise in Visibility of Venâncio
Mondlane
Weber's (1970) concept of politics as a vocation offers fundamental
contributions to understanding the type of politician embodied by
Venâncio Mondlane. According to this sociologist, it is crucial to
meticulously analyze the virtues of political personalities in order to
understand the context in which they appear: living “from” politics or
living “for” politics. Venâncio Mondlane's actions over the past two
years have sparked sociological curiosity.
We turn to the renowned social scientist
Weber (1970), a figure distinguished in the
scientific community, especially in political
analysis, for his methodological rigor. His
thinking deserves emphasis in order to
understand why Venâncio Mondlane has
become an inspiration to societies and,
consequently, was consecrated as the
Figure of the Year.
2.1. Weber Identifies Two Forms of Doing
Politics: Living “From” Politics and Living
“For” Politics
Living "from" politics is the condition of those who view the office of
power as a rewarding exercise. Weber (1970) emphasizes that the
purpose of those who live "from" politics is to derive benefits in order to
satisfy their personal needs and interests.
Such individuals act based on premeditated and rationally assessed
outcomes to achieve rational objectives.
9
CHAPTER 2
Living "for" politics, on the other hand, is the condition of those who
dedicate themselves fully to the cause, offering their own life in service
to transform power into a means of living harmoniously with others.
They find in politics a refuge for the soul, applying their skills to serve,
not necessarily to be served. The satisfaction of those who live "for"
politics lies in their commitment to a just and noble cause. Their goal is
to find moral value in their work, feeling useful by using their abilities to
transform and improve the exercise of power (Weber, 1970).
2.2. Actors Who Live "From" Politics
The political history of Mozambique is marked by the prevalence of
opportunistic political attitudes. Mercenarism has become the hallmark
of political actors who view power as a game of mafia, where the more
fraudulent schemes one orchestrates, the higher the probability of
gaining illicit wealth.
Political parties have often been seen as “interest-based enterprises,”
borrowing from Weber’s language. In these power factories, the actors
compete for positions of social honor and monetary gain, designing
traps, preserving privileges, accommodating the lazy, distributing
positions, organizing lootings, silencing critical minds, stealing votes,
fabricating lies, and manipulating data.
Money laundering, terrorism, institutional corruption, organized crime,
electoral fraud, sycophancy, economic schemes, manufactured poverty,
weak institutions, poor public services, political-social exclusion,
marginalization of women and youth, illegal debts, multimillion-dollar
commissions, party sabotage, limitations on civil liberties, human rights
violations, and more.
All of this illustrates the label of men who live "from" politics because
they make the exercise of power a source of enrichment for their own
pockets. As a brief example, the last three Presidents of the Republic of
10
CHAPTER 2
Mozambique, along with their families, became major shareholders and
millionaires just a few years after coming to power. None of them had
declared assets before assuming office (unlike in the United States,
where the presidency is not associated with money laundering, in
Mozambique it is known for such practices). Their entrepreneurial
ventures began only after they took office.
Weber (1970) severely criticizes politicians who seek to fulfill their
insatiable needs through this noble activity. The sociologist argues that
politics should be viewed as a sublime vocation, to serve others with
governance skills in pursuit of noble interests that guide a nation
founded on clear rational pillars. To these individuals, who are not
committed to ethical governance, Weber designates them as actors
who live "from" politics.
2.3. Does Venâncio Mondlane Live "For" Politics?
Beyond the extent and depth of his biography in the fight for
democracy, justice, and peace for Mozambique and its people, his open
biographical page proves his political and humanitarian integrity. Three
qualities, drawn from Weber (1970), characterize him:
Passion – His passionate devotion to the cause of national democracy
is demonstrated by his tireless struggle in the pursuit of electoral truth
and justice, respect for legality, and the restoration of ethical principles,
which fascinates many.
Sense of Responsibility – His deep commitment to the matter of
revolution, as a way to rebuild the political pyramid, which is under
threat of collapse, is applauded with uncontrollable emotions on every
avenue he walks.
Sense of Proportion – This psychological and optimistic quality, which
11
CHAPTER 2
allows him to remain unshaken by verbal assaults, electoral injustices,
and strategic offenses, enables him to continue seeking inner peace
and acting according to his revolutionary confidence. This self-control
is witnessed in the young man dubbed VM7. Despite numerous
speeches about the irreversibility of the results, his hope is reborn, and
he continues to believe in the victory of the people's will, not only in
Maputo but for all of Mozambique.
These qualities reflect a leader who lives "for" politics, dedicated not to
personal gain but to serving the people and transforming society for the
greater good.
12
CHAPTER 3
3. Exceptional
Historical Facts
The history of Mozambique has
witnessed a political-social phenomenon
like never before. The widespread social
protests, with both national and
international impact, have had profound
and flexible effects. The economy
collapsed in a matter of days, politics
was shaken, institutions isolated, and
actors shaped by boldness, reversing the
idea that Mozambican society is
peaceful. Technology and information
became the main vehicles of the
revolution, accompanied by collective
political awareness, social creativity, and
representations. There was police violence, brutalities in the streets,
horrific deaths perpetrated by the agents of the Rapid Intervention Unit
(UIR), arbitrary arrests, and much more, all within a span of less than two
months.
These protests mark a new national history, a living page in science, a
proactive society, a politics with a democratic face, a turbulent daily
life, and a general paralysis. Social actors positioned themselves as
political actors, aware of their civic rights. These events, once
unimaginable ghosts a few years ago, are now everyday facts that
define post-October elections Mozambique.
13
CHAPTER 3
After national independence, those who did not identify with Frelimo
were often labeled and interpreted based on prejudices and derogatory
terms. Despicable attributes were frequently used to tarnish opponents
of the Frelimo movement. The most common labels throughout history
included: "xiconhocas," "enemies of the homeland," "enemies of the
people," and "reactionaries." After Samora Machel's era, these labels
continued to be used by his successors.
However, with the notable rise of Venâncio Mondlane, especially with his
participation in the 2024 electoral race, which culminated in massive
protests, the derogatory terms once used for Frelimo opponents have
now been repurposed to describe those who identify with Frelimo. The
current anomaly is the one who stands with yesterday's heroes. The
liberators of yesterday are now considered today's black colonizers.
Although the deconstruction of these disqualifying labels for Frelimo
opponents has been gradually happening, it is essential to acknowledge
that their public and aggressive emergence was triggered by the social
protests of 2024. The direct and violent rejection of Frelimo supporters
is a phenomenon that emerged from these turbulent elections. We are
in a context where one must hide their Frelimo identity, or else face the
wrath of the popular fury.
14
Literary Bibliography
Das Letras, Mártir (2024). Um Olhar Sociológico sobre Carisma de
Venâncio Mondlane. 1st Edition. LitterArte Publisher. Maputo.
Weber, Max (1970). Ciência e Política: duas vocações. 18th Edition. São
Paulo: CULTRIX Publisher.
Journalistic Sources
Evidências, (26 de December, 2023). As nossas Figuras do Ano: Ode à
Coragem e Determinação. Edition no. 141, Maputo.
Índico Magazine, (7 de December, 2024). Venâncio Mondlane é Eleito
Personalidade do Ano pela Agência Lusa. Maputo.
Ngani, (16 de December, 2024). Venâncio Mondlane: Figura do Ano
2024. Edition 162, Nampula, www.ngani.co.mz.
Rádio Terra 90.0 FM, (29 de December, 2023). Qual é a sua Figura do
Ano 2023 em Moçambique? Maputo.
Savana, (29 de December, 2023). Figura Incontornável: O Trufafá da
Juventude. Maputo, (p. 04).
AS
MÁRTIR DAS LETR
Produced by Qevola
