Mozambique: Opposition accusations about death squads “are totally groundless and make no sense” – Prime Minister

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Mozambique: Opposition accusations about death squads “are totally groundless and make no sense” – Prime Minister

7:20 CAT | 28 Oct 2016

File photo / Carlos Agostinho do Rosario

Mozambican Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosario on Thursday categorically denied claims by the main opposition party, the rebel movement Renamo, that the government has created “death squads” to eliminate Renamo members.

Winding up a two day debate in the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic, in which the government had responded to requests for information from the parliamentary groups, Rosario said the accusations about death squads “are totally groundless and make no sense”.

Violent crime, he stressed, “is a concern for all of us, since it affects the day-to-day life of the public and economic activity”.

This violent crime, he pointed out, included the raids by gangs of Renamo gunmen, which plunged people into mourning and destroyed vital facilities such as health units. “We condemn all acts which endanger public order, tranquillity and social harmony”, he said. “No-one has the right to take somebody else’s life”.

The government, Rosario added, “repudiates the behaviour of all kinds of criminal networks, which try to call into question the very existence and raison d’etre of the State”.

He stressed the need for the relevant institutions of the administration of justice “to work for a speedy solution to all crimes, and to bring those responsible to court where they can be tried and sentenced”.

Rosario urged the public to remain vigilant and to collaborate with the defence and security forces in maintaining public order, safety and tranquillity”.

“The construction of a democratic state ruled by law demands from all of us the continual promotion of a society of political pluralism, tolerance and the culture of peace”, he said. “We reiterate the government’s commitment to ensure respect for the fundamental rights of citizens, enshrined in the Constitution and other laws in force in our country”.

Rosario pledged that no citizen will be deprived of his rights “simply because he belongs to a particular political party”.

Clearly addressing Renamo, he urged all citizens in illegal possession of weapons to hand them over to the defence and security forces.

“The illegal possession of weapons leads to disturbances of public order”, the Prime Minister added. “In any modern, democratic state the existence of armed political parties and parallel military forces is unacceptable”.

Source: AIM