Manuel de Araújo’s vehicle shot by the police in Quelimane – Mozambique

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Manuel de Araújo’s vehicle shot by the police in Quelimane – Mozambique

11:19 CAT | 04 Feb 2020

File photo: DW

The official vehicle of the mayor of Quelimane was hit by bullets fired by police during a march celebrating the Day of Mozambican Heroes, led by Manuel de Araújo. the opposition party mayor interprets the authorities’ action as a threat.

On Monday (03.02) police in Quelimane, in central Mozambique, fired tear gas to prevent a peaceful march celebrating the Day of Mozambican Heroes. Bullets were also fired at the official vehicle of Renamo mayor, Manuel de Araújo.

In an interview with DW Africa, the mayor says is more than evident that the authorities’ action is a threat. He also reveals that he has received several messages and emails containing death threats.

DW Africa: Was the march illegal, as the police claim?

Manuel de Araújo (MA): I would like to hear, from the police themselves, when a march becomes illegal. Because we left Heroes Square, where we participated in an official ceremony directed by the Secretary of State, and the governor and all the institutions of the city were there.

After the official ceremony was over, we left the square and headed for the party headquarters. That is the so-called march. Now, I did not know that the Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique was suspended and that the democratic rule of law was abolished in Mozambique, which is more or less what we have been experiencing since the October 15 electoral coup. Since then, it appears that fundamental freedoms have been suspended. Freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of opinion are increasingly restricted and, therefore, people cannot meet, they cannot speak out.

DW Africa: The police are said to have fired on your official vehicle, you being the mayor of the city of Quelimane. Was this excessive?

MA: Everything the police have done is not only illegal, it also resorts to the so-called disproportionate use of force. I cannot understand why my protocol vehicle had to have been fired upon. But bullets were fired at the vehicle, so the question is: what violation did the vehicle commit? Or the driver of the vehicle? Because I myself was on foot. Yet the police found it necessary to fire on the vehicle – several bullets – and released tear gas affecting several people quite unnecessarily, because it was a peaceful march.

DW Africa: Do you think there is a message being sent, with those shots against your vehicle?

MA: I have no doubt that it is a message. This is a direct threat which has been made. In fact, I have received several messages and emails with death threats. Several people have been sent to transmit messages for me to stay in my place, because I am part of a list of people who are active in society and whose days are numbered. But these threats will stop us enjoying the rights enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic. We suggest, since the Frelimo party has a majority in Parliament, that it propose an amendment to the Constitution of the Republic so that we return to the one-party system, because that is what is happening.

Source: Deutsche Welle