
Caravana do PODEMOS em campanha eleitoral no bairro T3 na Matola. Foto de Ferhat Momade
Maputo, 17 Oct (AIM) – Mozambique’s Network of Human Rights Defenders (RMDDH) has condemned the alleged harassment of members of Podemos (Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique) as well as some members of the polling station staff (MMVs) who operated in last Wednesday’s presidential, parliamentary and provincial elections.
Podemos is the main party that backs the independent presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane.
According to a statement from the RMDDH, the Mozambican Police (PRM) has been harassing Podemos members in Larde district, in the northern province of Nampula, for political reasons. Some MMVs are also being harassed for refusing to receive bribes in order to favor the ruling Frelimo party during the voting.
“On 10 October, the Police issued summonses for 15 members of Podemos and two MMVs for allegedly committing the crimes of home invasion, physical aggression and destruction of documents. They claimed that these individuals were denounced by Frelimo members. On 14 October, three of the accused were detained”, reads the note.
The RMDDH claims that the Police have never shown the evidence for detention of these individuals, although they claim to have a video showing how the crimes were committed.
“The police commander only said that he has the video without showing it. Of course, the lack of evidence raises serious suspicions about the prosecution’s integrity”, says the note.
According to the document, the detention of Podemos members without any evidence is in flagrant violation of the law.
The RMDDH called on the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) to carry out an investigation in order to solve the case, bringing details about the Police accusation “including the video that they claim to possess.”
(AIM)
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