Mozambique will get a new president amid a whirlwind of protests

A “national strike” is threatened as Mozambique's president-elect is sworn in on Wednesday, more than three months after contested elections.

Daniel Chapo, who is 48 years old, took 65% of the vote in a poll that opposition leaders, election observers and the general public said it was rigged.

The result sparked a wave of demonstrations – some peaceful but others violent – ​​leading to chaos, including killings and vandalism.

Chapo's biggest rival is Venancio Mondlan. He returned from self-imposed exile last week. He spent some time in South Africa, where he says he survived an assassination attempt.

Now he is calling on Mozambicans to take to the streets once again on inauguration day “against the thieves of the people”.

Both of Mozambique's main opposition parties – Renamo and MDM – say they are boycotting Wednesday's swearing-in ceremony because they too do not recognize Chapo as the rightful winner.

Even those in Mozambique who wish the president-elect success are openly questioning his legitimacy.

“Chapo is someone I admire a lot,” civil society activist Myrna Chitsungo told the BBC.

“For four years I worked with him – I know his desire for action, his openness to dialogue and his readiness to follow the recommendations of civil society on the ground.

“However, he is assuming illegitimate power. It stems from a rigged electoral process… He takes power in a context where the people don't accept him.''

In addition to winning over a hostile public, Chapo will also need to achieve the economic turnaround and end to corruption that he promised during his election campaign.

“Chapo will face many enemies because Mozambique seems to be run by cartels, including book cartels, drug cartel, sugar cartel, drug cartel, kidnapping cartel, mafia groups,” says analyst and investigative journalist Luis Nhanchote.

“He should have a strong team of experts ready to join him in this crusade to thoroughly break up the groups,” he adds.

“But first he must reassure Mozambicans and do everything in his power to restore peace to the country.”

Daniel Francisco Chapo was born on January 6, 1977. in a place called Inhaminga, Sofala Province, the sixth of 10 siblings. These were the years of civil war in Mozambique and the armed conflict forced his family to move to another nearby area.

His secondary education in the coastal city of Beira was followed by a law degree from Eduardo Mondlan University, then a master's degree in development management from the Catholic University of Mozambique.

Now married to Geeta Suleman Chapo, with whom he has three children, Chapo is also said to be a devout Christian and a basketball and football enthusiast.

Many current and former colleagues describe Chapo as a humble, hardworking and patient leader.

Before becoming the presidential candidate of the ruling Frelimo party, he was a radio and television presenter, legal notary, university lecturer and provincial governor before rising to the position of secretary general of Frelimo.

Speaking at his recent birthday celebrations, Chapo himself acknowledged the daunting challenge ahead of him as president.

“We must rebuild our country economically … it is easy to destroy, but to build is not an easy task.”

National reconciliation, creating more jobs, reforming the electoral law and decentralizing power are at the top of his agenda, he said.

But how successful can he be without the country behind him?

At the very least, it will mark a change from outgoing President Felipe Nyusi, whom Ms Chitsungo says many Mozambicans will be happy to see at the back of.

“Chapo is a figure of dialogue and consensus, not someone who supports Nyusi's violent style of government. He has the potential to negotiate with Mondlane.

“Although Chapo may not fully satisfy all of Mondlane's demands, I believe he could fulfill at least 50% of them,” adds Ms Chitsungo.

Mondlane – a part-time pastor and independent candidate who insists he is the real winner of the election – is reportedly taking shelter in one of the capital's hotels. It is not known what kind of security is there, nor who pays for it.

He claims that last week, while walking around a market in Maputo, a vendor near him was shot, repeating the killing of two of his close aides in October.

As the leader of the national protests against the contested election result, many have come to see him as the voice of the voiceless. Yet right now, the president-elect's camp is not publicly engaging him.

Regardless, listening to the public's grievances and demands, and sometimes ignoring the commands of his ruling Frelimo party, will be key to Chapo's success, analysts told the BBC.

Finding some way to constructively engage with Mondlane would undoubtedly provide a boost, it seems.

Winning over the public could also force Chapo to say no to “fat salaries for the elite and fringe benefits, some of which are 10 times the minimum wage in Mozambique,” Mr Nachote argued.

Plus, if Chapo is to have any chance of ending the broader political crisis, he will need support from others to make lasting, structural change, said prominent cleric the Rev. Anastasio Chembese.

“Perhaps we should remain skeptical of a single person solving Mozambique's challenges – change must start within the system itself.”

“We must strive for a separation of powers in the state apparatus, international monopolies have huge interests in the country and we have serious ethical problems within the political elites to solve.”

Once in office, Chapo was advised to fire the country's police chief, Bernadino Rafael, analysts told the BBC. He denies any wrongdoing but is seen by some as the mastermind behind the brutal response to the post-election protests.

They say they want him to be replaced by a successor who “respects human rights” and follows legal and international standards. Another proposal that analysts are touting is to appoint a new attorney general.

It should be noted that Chapo would be the first president of Mozambique who did not fight in the war of independence.

“He is part of the new generation. Part of his background is completely different from his predecessors – he was born in a country freed from them,” says Mr Nhachote.

“If he wants to make a real mark on history, he needs to challenge these past icons. If he can't (handle it), I'm sure he'll only run for one term.”