Africa-Press – Mozambique. Mozambican president Daniel Chapo said on Thursday that the faces of those behind the post-election demonstrations in Mozambique were well-known and “well-identified”, calling for more awareness of “incitement to violence” on digital platforms.
“Today, fortunately, these faces that threaten the free movement of people and goods, destroy public and private property and harm our economy are well-identified and known to our Defence and Security Forces, the population and the judicial authorities, who will know how to apply this knowledge within the terms and limits of the law,” President Chapo said during a graduation ceremony at the Academy of Police Sciences (ACIPOL), in Maputo province.
The Mozambican Head of State called for the force to be vigilant against incitement to violence on people and property from digital and electronic platforms, from which “inciting pamphlets” emerge and that create a “climate of instability” under the guise of peaceful demonstrations.
For the Head of State, the peaceful demonstrations and marches instigated on digital platforms become “violent, illegal, criminal demonstrations, [with] vandalism and destruction of public and private property”.
“No Mozambican can be prevented from moving freely and transporting their property wherever they want,” the president said.
On the occasion, Chapo also asked that Mozambican police officers avoid actions that jeopardize the “good name” of the corporation and the state, considering “harmful practices” such as corruption, extortion, clientelism, indiscipline, nepotism and lack of respect for citizens unacceptable.
“It is still intolerable that those who the state grants full powers to protect us are involved in criminal practices, often in organized crime (…). These evils must be relentlessly combated because they undermine society’s trust in institutions and their employees and agents,” stated the Mozambican head of state, asking that agents maintain “cordial and humane” contact with communities.
Mozambique has been experiencing a climate of social unrest since October of last year, with demonstrations and strikes called, at first, by former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who rejects the election results that gave victory to the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo) candidate, Daniel Chapo.
Smaller-scale protests are still taking place in different parts of the country with people, in addition to contesting the October 9 election results, protesting the rising cost of living and other social problems.
Since October, at least 327 people have died, including around two dozen minors, and around 750 have been shot during the protests, according to the electoral platform Decide, a non-governmental organization that monitors electoral processes in Mozambique.
Government figures confirm at least 80 deaths during the demonstrations, in addition to the destruction of 1,677 commercial establishments, 177 schools and 23 health units
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