Ayobamiji Komolafe 
Elvino Dias, the lawyer representing Mozambique leading opposition candidate, Venancio Mondlane, was reportedly killed in Maputo on Saturday.
Alongside Dias, another political figure, Paulo Guambe, a candidate from the Podemos party that backs Mondlane, was also killed in the attack.
Eyewitnesses report that two gunmen opened fire on their vehicle while it was stationary in the capital city.
Albino Forquilha, head of the Podemos party, confirmed the deaths to AFP.
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Also, Mozambique’s national lawyers’ association expressed “deep shock” over Dias’s assassination.
The civil society observer group, Mais Integridade, called the killings “repugnant” and warned that the act undermines Mozambique’s fragile democracy.
The group condemned the murders as a form of political intimidation.
Police have launched an investigation but have yet to officially confirm the identities of the victims.
The European Union has also weighed in, condemning the killings and urging Mozambique’s authorities to ensure a full, transparent investigation that brings the perpetrators to justice.
“In a democracy, there is no place for politically motivated killings,” the EU said in a statement.
The violence comes as Mozambique awaits the official results from its nationwide elections held on October 9, with the results expected on October 24.
Venancio Mondlane, who posed a serious challenge to Frelimo, the ruling party that has governed Mozambique since its independence 49 years ago, declared victory soon after the polls closed.
He has alleged widespread electoral fraud as early reports suggest Frelimo is leading in ballot counts.
In response, Mondlane has called for nationwide demonstrations on Monday to protest the election process.
The murders of Dias and Guambe are likely to deepen the crisis as the country anxiously awaits the election results.
