Mozambique: Frelimo supporters try to intimidate our correspondents – CIP Eleições

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Mozambique: Frelimo supporters try to intimidate our correspondents – CIP Eleições

8:43 CAT | 23 Sep 2019

Three correspondents of this newsletter, two duly accredited by provincial elections commissions as national observers of the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), were bullied for their work over the past week, in the districts of Chigubo, Gaza; Mulevala, Zambezia; and Tambara, Manica. Two had the mobile phones they use in their work taken.

In Chigubo, Gaza, our correspondent was beaten and his mobile phone taken and given to the police. After presenting the police with a credential, his mobile phone was given back to him, but with police orders not to cover the Frelimo campaign. Subsequent death threats to our accredited correspondent were sufficiently serious that he was forced to leave his house.

In Tambara, our accredited correspondent was summoned on Friday (20 September) for a hearing at the Tambara district police station, accused by Frelimo of being a Renamo informant. In his defence, the journalist presented his observer credential and explained the scope of his activities. On Tuesday (17 September) he had been banned from covering the Frelimo campaign by the party committee secretary Armindo Baulene who told him that “if I continue to cover Frelimo I will be arrested or my family will regret it.”

In Mulevala, Zambezia, Frelimo members confiscated a Bulletin correspondent’s cell phone as he was taking pictures of pamphlets at the market in the district’s village town, and was later warned by the police. CIP sent a lawyer to try to retrieve the phone and to follow up the case. The Zambezia Provincial Election Commission (CPE) has not responded to the requests by CIP for the issuance of credentials. But even without credential, there are no legal restrictions against anyone taking pictures in a market.

In all cases, Frelimo supporters accuse CIP observers of being “Renamo spies” without providing evidence. CIP correspondents have been covering the campaign of all political parties, exposing the irregularities practiced by all.

By Joseph Hanlon

Source: 2019 General Elections - Mozambique Political Process Bulletin