Mozambique Elections: “It is extremely serious to destroy a courthouse” – Chief Justice

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Mozambique Elections: “It is extremely serious to destroy a courthouse” – Chief Justice

1:51 CAT | 06 Dec 2024

Photo: O País

Chief Justice of Mozambique, Adelino Muchanga, has condemned the destruction of the Morrumbala judicial court in Zambézia province. Speaking in Sofal provinces, Muchanga urged protesters not to exceed the limits of public order and degenerate into acts of vandalism.

The president of the supreme court also pointed out that the current circumstances require Mozambicans to make an unequivocal commitment to respecting the property of others.

Adelino Muchanga stressed that the courts are symbols of justice, peace and respect for the rule of law. “When these symbols are attacked, as happened on Wednesday in Morrumbala, it is not only an affront to the physical building but also an attempt to weaken the foundations of our society and the rule of law. What happened was serious, even extremely serious,” he stated.

Adelino Muchanga recalled that, first and foremost, the courts are bodies for social pacification, an alternative to taking the law into one’s own hands.

“The destruction of a court directly harms the citizen himself. As I have always said, the court does not belong to the judge and the court officer. In the court, there are cases involving ordinary citizens who transfer the expectation of resolving their conflicts to these bodies,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Diario da Zambezia reports that, in Morrumbala this Wednesday (04-12),(in the first of the new phase of post-election protests called by Venancio Mondlane, protesters in just a few hours destroyed both public and private property, notably the Frelimo district headquarters, the judicial court building, the district STAE offices and even the penitentiary establishment, freeing inmates serving sentences there.

Diário da Zambezia adds that 10th and 12th grade exams were also been disrupted due to the situation in Morrumbala on Wednesday, and that in Milange and Alto-Molócu districts, traffic on the main roads, including the N1, was interrupted for some time.

Diário da Zambézia further reports that in Moiane, Gilé district, protesters “destroyed the local secondary school” [sic].

Source: O País / Diário da Zambézia