Although demonstrations to pay tribute to the late rapper Azagaia had been given a go ahead in most of the municipalities in Mozambique, sources told Mozambique Insights that security forces received orders from above to ensure they did not take place.
With most mayors complying with the law and approving of the protest marches, the security forces last resort was the use of force to break up the peaceful demonstrations.
According to Mozambique Insights’ sources, the secret services were informed on Friday to make sure the demonstrations were not successful.
After successfully stymying the march, police top brass told the organisers that they had just following orders.
Comment
Mozambique Insights understands that the orders were issued by President Filipe Nyusi, who it is said feared the impact the demonstrations would have on his image ahead of the ruling Frelimo party’s first biannual meeting of the Central Committee (CC) – the CC is the highest ruling body of the party between congresses.
The sources claim that Nyusi does not wish to be confronted for an alleged lack of authority when the Central Committee meets next week. Accordingly, Nyusi feels that the confrontation at the meeting could lead to an early start of the debate around the issue of succession.
He learnt from former President Armando Guebuza to not discuss the issue of succession while there is still time on the calendar for him to run the country. Guebuza hardly managed to govern as soon as his successor was elected by party members to be their presidential candidate.
Thus, Nyusi’s calculus would be to let the clock run until the very latest possible moment to open an internal debate on the succession.
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