Mozambique: Pemba bans fireworks during festive season – Carta | Watch

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Mozambique: Pemba bans fireworks during festive season – Carta | Watch

5:14 CAT | 09 Dec 2022

Screen grab: Miramar

Authorities in the city of Pemba, capital of Cabo Delgado, are moving to prevent the sale and use of fireworks during the upcoming festive season. In separate press conferences, the Municipal Council and the Provincial Command of the PRM made it known that traders would not be authorised to sell fireworks, nor citizens to use them, under the risk of harsh penalties.

Mayor Florete Motarua said that the restriction and ban on the sale and use of fireworks during the festive season was based on consideration of the consequences of acts of terrorism on displaced families .

Motarua said he was working with the tourist resorts planning to host events during the festivities, so as not to use fireworks, while PRM units and other forces would be on the ground to respond to any attempted use.

PRM spokesman Mário Adolfo justified the ban on fireworks as constituting a measure of surveillance and control since, according to him, fireworks could provide an opportunity for terrorists to take action.

Adolfo had no hesitation in putting fireworks on a par with the weapons used by terrorists in attacks on villages and towns in the districts of Cabo Delgado, and therefore called for increased vigilance.

It is noteworthy that the city of Pemba, which hosts more than 140,000 displaced people, is so far the only location in Cabo Delgado that has not been targeted by a terrorist attack.

Pemba residents however doubt the effectiveness of the authorities’ decision to prohibit the use of fireworks, allegedly so as not to frighten displaced families, and say that fireworks are a traditional feature of the Christmas and New Year parties.

Rosário António, a resident of the Ingonane neighbourhood since 2000, says that the end-of-year festivities have always had fireworks, and doubts the Municipal Council’s ability to control their use by Pemba’s thousands of residents and visitors.

Meanwhile, Miramar reports that nowhere in Cabo Delgado will fire works be allowed.

Watch the Miramar report.