Maputo, 20 Nov (AIM) – At midday on Friday, a large number of motorists in Maputo stopped their cars, and sounded their horns in memory of those who were shot dead by the police since the mass demonstrations against the allegedly fraudulent general election results began on 21 October.
This was the start of three days of mourning, called for by independent presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, which are part of the “second moment” of “phase four” of the mass demonstrations.
According to the anti-corruption NGO, the centre for public integrity (CIP), during the four phases of demonstrations over 60 people have lost their live.
Mondlane, speaking on Tuesday via his Facebook account, said that mourning would take place on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, “in memory of those who were murdered by the security forces. We will wear black clothes and use our vehicles to blow the horn from 12:00 to 13:00. We will also be able to show our messages demanding justice and electoral truth.”
Mondlane also said that the moments of noise in which demonstrators whistle, play musical instruments, and bang metal objects, especially pots, will continue from 21.00 to 22.00.
“We lost over 50 people shot by the authorities who were supposed to protect these people. They died as martyrs of a revolution, in demanding change and good living conditions. This is a unique and historic opportunity for us to change the chaotic state of our country”, he said.
Although Mondlane had not called for further street demonstrations, a large crowd gathered at Guerra Popular Avenue, in the centre of the city, causing a large traffic jam. Their political sympathies were not in doubt, since they were chanting “Venancio! Venancio!”.
Unlike previous occasions, this time the police kept a low profile and made no attempt to disperse the demonstration. No tear gas was fired, much less rubber bullets or live ammunition.
While reporting the traffic jam, Sheila Wilson, a journalist from the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), a prominent Mozambican NGO, was assaulted by a member of the security forces and her cell phone taken from her by force.
Sheila Wilson was once abducted by police in central Maputo, while she was covering demonstrations outside the United Nations offices by hundreds of former members of the long defunct state security service, SNASP.
At that time, the police gave no reason for seizing her and did not charge her with any offence. When she asked why she had been incarcerated, a police officer said he was “following orders”.
(AIM)
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