Two Mozambican non-governmental organizations say that in recent days there have been nine deaths in Nampula and Zambézia as a result of clashes with the police.
Two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Mozambique represented at least nine dead in the provinces of Nampula and Zambezia in clashes with the police in the context of the post-election protests that have been taking place since Thursday.
According to the most recent human rights bulletin of the CDD – Center for Democracy and Human Rights, “in recent days, the city and province of Nampula“, in the north of the country, “became the scene of an alarming and brutal repression, with signs of worsening in practically all of its 23 districts.”
“In the midst of this escalation of violence, Nampula Central Hospital became a scene of mourning and despair. “Health professionals report exhaustion and deep shock at the growing number of serious cases,” reads the bulletin, which notes the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and live bullets to disperse protesters by police. .
He adds that this hospital “has already received more than 30 people with serious injuries, including 28 victims of gunshots from Namialo, Meconta district,” in addition to “Seven deaths have already been confirmed” in the province.
This wave of violence occurs during a seven-day period of strikes and demonstrations called throughout the country, since October 31, by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane.
The Center for Public Integrity (CIP), a non-governmental organization in Mozambique that monitors electoral processes, reports, in its most recent monitoring bulletin on the electoral process, two deaths in the province of Zambézia in confrontations with the police.
In this case, it is said that the protesters marched in Pebane, in that province in the center of the country, and “vandalized” the headquarters of the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frelimo, in power), which motivated police intervention. that injured six people. “The two deceased are young people of 14 and 17 years old.“Reads the document, which also points out the vandalism of other Frelimo headquarters and police officers’ homes.
On Thursday, the General Commander of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique; Bernardino Rafael said that so far the corporation had been called to intervene in 58 demonstrations, of which 38 were violent, with 36 agents under hospital treatment.
“We all saw these violent demonstrations. Cars and tires were burned on the roads, state institutions and commercial establishments were vandalized, and even the facilities where the police work were vandalized,” lamented Bernardino Rafael.
Frelimo leader Celso Correia, also Minister of Agriculture, stated on Saturday that the right to protest must be reconciled with other fundamental rights, given the post-election demonstrations in the country.
“Frelimo defends the principle of peace and the values of peace. We are against any type of violence. We believe that the rights of all citizens must be safeguarded, both the right to protest and also the right to life and free movement,” he stated.
He guaranteed that Frelimo wants the electoral process to develop “with the greatest possible transparency” and “value the work of the institutions in a transparent and credible manner.”
“Also convince the group of Mozambicans who still do not have confidence in the results. “It is very important that the recount process is as transparent as possible to achieve social peace, which is very important for the construction of Mozambique,” he said.
The National Electoral Commission (CNE) announced on October 24 the victory of Daniel Chapo, supported by Frelimo, a party in power since 1975, in the elections for President of the Republic on October 9, with 70.67% of the votes.
Venâncio Mondlane, supported by the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique ( Podemos, extra-parliamentary), came in second place, with 20.32%, but stated that he does not recognize these results, which must still be validated and proclaimed by the Constitutional Council .
Venâncio Mondlane called for a general strike and demonstrations for a week in Mozambique, starting on October 31, and marches in Maputo on November 7.
He pointed out that this is the third stage of the challenge of the electoral results, which follows the protests held on October 21, 24 and 25, which led to clashes with the police, which resulted in at least 10 deaths, dozens of injured and 500 people. arrests, according to the CIP.
Source: Observadora
