Mozambique: Mondlane's Appeal Regarding Live Broadcast of His Trial Rejected

What the report says

Mozambique’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by Venâncio Mondlane, the former presidential candidate and leader of the National Alliance for a Free and Autonomous Mozambique (Anamola), over his request for live television and social media coverage of his trial. According to the report from Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique, the court ruled that the hearing may be open to the public, and journalists will be allowed to attend and file written accounts, but sound and image recording will remain barred.

The trial is scheduled for November 17. The court said in its ruling that the kind of decision Mondlane challenged cannot be appealed under Mozambique’s Criminal Procedure Code. It also maintained its earlier position that a live broadcast could encourage people to reach conclusions about guilt or innocence before the case is decided.

Mondlane faces five criminal charges connected to post-election demonstrations that followed the 2024 general election. The article says the protests began peacefully before turning into rioting. The Supreme Court’s decision comes after the Council of State, the president’s advisory body, moved to lift Mondlane’s immunity so he could stand trial. The case is drawing major attention because Mondlane is widely seen as a prominent opposition figure with strong public support.