Seven demonstrators shot dead by police in Nampula

Maputo, 14 Nov (AIM) – The “Decide” Electoral Platform, a prominent Mozambican NGO, claims that the Mozambican Police (PRM) shot dead on Wednesday seven demonstrators in Namicopo neighbourhood, in the northern province of Nampula, during demonstrations called by the presidential candidate, Venâncio Mondlane.

Wednesday was the first day of “phase four” of demonstrations against the allegedly fraudulent results of the 9 October general elections. This time, Mondlane wanted to concentrate demonstrations on the provincial capitals and the ports.

Phase One was billed as a “national general strike” on 21 October. Phase two was two days of strikes and demonstrations on 24 and 25 October. Phase three was an entire week of demonstrations, culminating in a “march on Maputo” on 7 November.

In Namicopo on Wednesday, some of the victims were not demonstrators at all. They were shot when bullets entered their houses, when the Police were trying to disperse the demonstrators.

“Why don’t they negotiate about this political crisis? They must tell each other what they really want. They must stop killing innocent people. There is no justice in Mozambique, poor people suffer but there is no justice. My brother is dead but I cannot do anything, I cannot prosecute anyone because there is no justice. Justice only exists for rich people”, said a sister of one of the victims.

According to a report carried by the Platform, “A total of nine people were shot by the police in Nampula. Seven of them died after being shot”.

In a video that went viral on social media, the Police used tear gas against demonstrators in the central city of Quelimane, including the mayor, Manuel de Araújo, and his wife.

Quelimane, which is a stronghold of the opposition party, Renamo, has held many anti-government demonstrations, and until now they have been overwhelmingly peaceful. But this time, the police refused to allow Araujo and his supporters to march from Quelimane airport to the centre of the city.

In order to avenge the police violence, the population in the nearby district of Inhassunge, burned down the local police station and a police vehicle, events that were filmed on a video that then went viral on Mozambican social media.

A crowd then went on a manhunt for members of the ruling Frelimo party and they lynched the president of the Inhassunge District Elections Commission, Luis Joaquim Salimo, for allegedly being responsible for electoral fraud.
(AIM)
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