Clanging pans: Why Mozambique’s election protesters refuse to go away | Politics

Maputo, Mozambique – At 7pm on November 4, Maputo’s streets fell into an eerie silence.

Public transportation was at a standstill, adhering to opposition leader Venancio Mondlane’s call for a shutdown.

Then, a steady clanging began. Residents in affluent high rises and inner-city apartment blocks alike joined in a coordinated chorus of a pot-banging protest.

Known as a “panelaco”, this form of protest has emerged as a powerful way to voice frustrations over Mozambique’s disputed general election results, allowing citizens to express dissent without facing the immediate risk of…