Maputo, 23 Mar (AIM) – Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi on Thursday instructed the Ministry of the Interior to investigate the reasons that led the police to adopt a confrontational attitude against young people, who last Saturday marched in honour of the country’s foremost rap musician, Edson da Luz (known by his stage name Azagaia), who died on 9 March.
The President, who was speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Police Science Academy (ACIPOL), in Marracuene district, about 30 kilometres north of Maputo, also said “the Ministry of the Interior should identify those who want to take advantage of young people to achieve their goals. We regretted what happened and we will take the necessary measures to clarify what took place and prevent this situation from happening again.”
Azagaia’s lyrics were frequently highly critical of the ruling Frelimo Party, and its governments – so much so that, in 2008, the Attorney-General’s Office (PGR) summoned him for questioning. His song “Povo no Poder” (“The People in Power”) was supposedly fomenting riots, but no charges were ever pressed against him.
Nyusi declared that the actions of the police should not translate into indiscriminate violence against “innocent civilians or young people.”
“In situations like these, there are often rival agendas, but we must not allow this to overshadow the work done by the Mozambique Police (PRM), day after day, to defend democratic values”, Nyusi said, advancing that “even if there are infiltrators within these young people, the PRM’s job is to isolate the group of malicious people and hold them accountable in an exemplary manner.”
The police, which has also been criticized by national and international human rights organizations, used force and tear gas to disperse the marchers in Maputo, Beira and Nampula.
“The situation tested the limits of institutional action in the exercise of citizens’ rights and freedoms. This fact compels the strengthening of dialogue as a mechanism for seeking convergences to safeguard constitutional imperatives”, said Nyusi.
“We welcome the need to prevent public disorder in the country”, Nyusi said, arguing that “repression should be used against the enemies of democracy. Violence should be directed against those who want to use non-democratic ways to achieve power.”
The Mozambican people, according to Nyusi, must remain vigilant “against acts that can divide us and delay our development.”
“The police must prioritize dialogue, safeguarding public security so that citizens can exercise their democratic rights and freedoms”, he continued. “The role of the PRM is to ensure order, security and public tranquillity throughout the national territory. Order and security should be the concern of any PRM member in the face of those who want to distract us.”
The President further challenged the ACIPOL graduates to devise responses capable of addressing threats such as terrorism, kidnappings, cybercrime and cross-border crime.
“The new graduates must draw up scientific and technical proposals to face the problems that threaten the country. I hope they will be prepared for the prevention of any crime that occurs on the various fronts on which they are called to intervene”, said Nyusi.
The government, he added, is aware that the development of human capital will only be possible with women and men empowered with technical and scientific knowledge.
On the same occasion, Nyusi announced the resumption of water supply, which had been interrupted during the passage of Cyclone Freddy, to 26,000 people in the city of Quelimane, capital of the central province of Zambézia.
(AIM)
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