Maputo, 24 Jun (AIM) – The president of the Association of United Health Professionals of Mozambique (APSUSM), Anselmo Muchave, claims to have received a death threat over the phone last Thursday afternoon.
According to Muchave, cited by the Citizens Observatory for Health (OCS), the anonymous caller “told me that I should back down on the demands, if I did not want to end up like Anastacio Matavel, [a social activist and election observer who was assassinated in the southern province of Gaza in 2019].”
APSUSM claims to represent nurses, laboratory technicians, drivers and other health sector professionals.
On Monday, APSUSM suspended the strike that had been scheduled to begin on 19 June, after agreement was reached in the negotiations taking place with the Government, through the Ministry of Health.
The strike was intended to take place at a national level, but has now been suspended for 60 days.
“Around 3pm on Thursday, I received a phone call from an unknown person”, said Muchave. The caller told Muchave “I should stop, or I would end up dead”. The voice could not be identified and the call was made using a private number.
However, Muchave says he will not give up the cause. “If I have to die claiming the rights of health professionals, which are legitimate, it will be done”, he said, stressing that he is not intimidated.
Muchave added that he has sent an email to the Ministry of Health explaining what had happened, and has also contacted the police.
“I appeal to APSUSM members to remain persistent and not give up the fight”, he said.
The threat takes place at a moment when the health sector is haunted by discontentment. On Thursday, the Medical Association of Mozambique (AMM), which claims to represent the country’s doctors, announced that its members will be going on strike, as from 10 July, protesting against the government’s alleged failure to honour earlier agreements.
APSUSM claims that it has over 17,000 members, out of the 52,000 workers in the national health system.
(AIM)
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