Instead of ‘dramatising’ the words of Bernardino Rafael, “we have to realise that we all have the right to self-defence” – Maleiane

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Instead of ‘dramatising’ the words of Bernardino Rafael, “we have to realise that we all have the right to self-defence” – Maleiane

3:12 CAT | 05 Oct 2022

Photo: O País

Prime Minister Adriano Maleiane yesterday reacted to the exhortation of Cabo Delgado residents by PRM commander-in-chief Bernardino Rafael to use machetes, knives and spears to defend themselves against terrorists.

The prime minister says people are over-dramatizing the speech.

“The commander-general has his mission,” Maleiane said, quoted by ‘O País’. “When he pronounced those words, he knew what he was saying. He was talking about self-defence. Instead of dramatising, we have to realise that we all have the right to self-defence. We have to create these surveillance initiatives. Surveillance need not necessarily be armed; it can be done through information facilitation. So, far from being controversial, I think the commander-general is saying that, as far as maintaining peace and stability, the police are at the forefront, but they need the cooperation of communities to achieve better results”.

READ: Watch: Terrorist attacked village in Quissanga: Rafael ‘authorises’ residents to defend themselves by all means possible

Mozambique urges ‘knives and machetes’ war on jihadists – BBC

Speaking this Tuesday during the Peace Day celebrations in Maputo, Maleiane added that the elections must cease being a cause of conflict in the country.

“The day each one knows how to respect the other, everything will become clearer. If it is already known that the election process has been the cause of conflicts, then let’s improve the processes. If the problem is in the laws, we will improve those laws, but we cannot eternally be using elections as a pretext for tensions,” the Prime Minister said.

READ: Mozambique Elections 5: Major registration delay; STAE DG finally approved – By CIP and Joseph Hanlon

Maleiane also asserted that minds needed to be changed in order to put an end to violence in the country. “Terrorists must realize that the world does not grow by way of violence. Everything has to be done in a peaceful environment. As the religions say, we have to first disarm minds, so that hatred and violence do not grow,” he concluded.

By Raúl Massingue

Source: O País