CIP Mozambique Elections: Threats and violence rising

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CIP Mozambique Elections: Threats and violence rising

9:36 CAT | 03 Sep 2024

Unknown individuals, early on Thursday morning, burnt down the house of an MDM member in Changara-sede, Tete. [Image: CIP Eleições]

After the initial days of the campaign, which were relatively calm and peaceful, our correspondents reporting an increase in threats and provocations by the Frelimo against members of the opposition.. The most problematic provinces are Manica, Inhambane, Gaza and Maputo province.

Four people were injured in clashes between supporters of Frelimo and of the MDM in Chimoio, Manica. On Wednesday (28 August) one member of each party was injured in a brawl when their motorcades crossed paths during campaigning in the Josina Machel neighbourhood. In all, four people have required first aid treatment at the Chimoio Provincial Hospital, as a direct result of clashes between supporters of the political parties since the start of the election campaign in Chimoio. The other two were assaulted on 25 and 27 August. So far, the clashes in Chimoio have only been between supporters of Frelimo and of the MDM.

In Chókwe, Gaza, on Saturday (31 August) there was a clash between Frelimo and Podemos supporters. The confrontation occurred in the presence of the Frelimo local leadership, namely secretaries of Party and OJM branches. The police were apathetic. They only attempted, unsuccessfully, to ask the Frelimo members to stop the provocation.

In Magude, Gaza, Frelimo members have been following the Podemos campaign, and throwing up barriers so that they cannot continue with their political activities.

In Manica, the delegate of the CAD coalition, now representing Podemos, was threatened at his house Saturday night (31 August). His neighbours confirmed the threat.

The police in Marrupa, Niassa, on Friday (30 August) detained two members of Frelimo, accused of tearing down a Renamo flag. Members and supporters of Frelimo and Renamo had clashed after campaigning at the Utendele resettlement neighbourhood.

Unknown individuals, early on Thursday morning, burnt down the house of an MDM member in Changara-sede, Tete.

Members of the Frelimo in Tambara, Manica, are accused of burning a Renamo flag and threatening to kill anyone who opposed this act. Also in Tambara, a member of the police force has been detained, accused of vandalising Frelimo Party propaganda material.

Increased threats in Inhambane

Young members of opposition parties, in Massinga, Funhalouro and Inhassoro districts of Inhambane, are complaining of threats from members of the Frelimo Party. Local traders are threatened that their businesses will be closed if they continue to campaign in support of Podemos and the MDM. Local musicians and public administration staff who have joined opposition parties have also been threated.

In Inhassoro, Frelimo members and supporters are threatening supporters of other parties, telling them not to campaign for the opposition. Neighbourhood and village leaders and secretaries are trying to stop the wearing of opposition T-shirts. Anyone found with opposition material is threatened with expulsion from the neighbourhood, meaning they would have to find somewhere else to live.

One young supporter of the MDM had to remove the flags of his party which he had hoisted in the Funhalouro district market, where he is a seller, after receiving threats from Frelimo.

In Inhassoro and in Massinga supporters of Podemos are denouncing recurrent harassment and threats from Frelimo, through phone calls and personally at their homes.

Frelimo in Zavala, Inhambane province, tried, unsuccessfully, to interrupt the campaign of the Podemos party by blocking a march.

Insurgent gunfire overshadows campaign in Mocímboa da Praia

The municipality of Mocímboa da Praia suffered a night of terror when insurgents ambushed a patrol of the Rwandan police who control parts the town. The Rwandan forces responded and the shoot-out resulted in the death of a child, who was hit by a bullet.

Podemos denounces refusal to grant its monitors credentials in Cabo Delgado

The Cabo Delgado provincial coordinator of Podemos, Assane Singano, has accused the election management bodies in some districts of refusing to grant credentials to Podemos monitors. He said this refusal is happening in Mecufi, Namuno and Metuge districts. He accuses leaders of the election management bodies using laws that have already been revoked to create difficulties in accreditation.” They think the political parties don’t know the laws, but everything they do is the work of those in power to hinder the advance of democracy”, said Singano.

MDM accuses Police of giving their activity plans to Frelimo

Renamo and the MDM accused the district command of the police (PRM) in Búzi of providing their activity plans in the election campaign to Frelimo. Fernando Gaissa, the MDM district political delegate said that on 29 August, for example, he should have worked in Nova Sofala with his members in the areas of Thungo and Massazane. But a Frelimo brigade, after finding out the MDM agenda, went to work in the same areas. To avoid confrontation, the MDM group ended up not visiting those areas. He added that the same thing happened when the party’s presidential candidate, Lutero Simango, arrived.

The Renamo election agent, Baptista Maquiava, makes the same complaint. Because of this situation, the two parties (Renamo and the MDM) have decided that, as from today, they will no longer give their plans of activity to the police District Command.

READ: CIP Mozambique Elections: Compulsory contributions to campaign up to $470

CIP Mozambique Elections: Frelimo closes schools & forces teachers to campaign

Source: Centro de Integridade Pública - CIP