Mozambican authorities seem to have take a leaf of Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro: they’re becoming adept at denying undeniable facts.
In the aftermath of police crackdown on peaceful protests nationwide to pay tribute to the late rapper Edson da Lux, better known by his stage name Azagaia, Mozambiique’s police (PRM) insisted that it had “had to resort to the use of mass dispersal weapons (non-lethal weapons), in strict compliance with the principle of proportionality of forces and equity of means.”
The police crackdown was subject to heavy criticism from both within and outside Mozambique for its gross violation of human rights, not least because 14 protesters were injured – two lost one eye each – and 36 were briefly detained.
Under the glare of the public and media, police tortured protesters. Videos made the rounds on social media of police using batons to torture citizens.
However, one incident of torture took place out of the limelight. In the northern Nampula province, police kidnapped activist Gamito dos Santos Carlos, tied and blindfolded him and took him to an undisclosed location, where for two hours subjected him to brutal torture.
“When we arrived at the place, they stripped me naked and started torturing me by throwing hot water, and then beat me mercilessly all over my body. Even my head did not escape, including my genitals.”
But Nampula police spokesperson, Zacarias Nacute, denied that Carlos had been tortured, adding euphemistically that police had used some force because he was resisting arrest.
Nacute echoed the words of his deputy-General Commander, Fernando Tsucana, who had told a press conference that police had information that the demonstrations would turn violent, and had to act preventively.
Interestingly, all marches had been approved by the respective city mayors with the exception of six cities. Consequently, police not only trampled on the text of the constitution but usurped the powers of mayors, who are democratically elected. The only lawful task for the police was to protect the protesters.
Not to be outdone, the ruling Frelimo party distanced itself from the violent crackdown and said that it was a force for good. Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Celso Correia, told reporters in Nampula that “we’re a party of peace and every violent act has to be analysed … we’re a party of peace and will continue working for peace.”
This contrasts reports and anecdotal evidence gathered over the years. For example, a 2019 Electoral Institute for Southern Africa (EISA) report on the 2018 and 2019 municipal, legislative and presidential elections showed that Frelimo supporters had perpetrated more violence against opposition supporters – clearly, Correia was attempting to whitewash reality.
Meanwhile, the non-governmental organisation Centre for Public Integrity (CIP) has sued the Mozambican state, arguing it violated the country’s constitution and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
I t remains to be seen whether the Attorney-General’s Office will ever lift a finger to deal with the case. After all, this is likely to be spun out of the public imagination.
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