Mozambique: Post-election protests valid outcry for justice – Minister Saize

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Mozambique: Post-election protests valid outcry for justice – Minister Saize

10:19 CAT | 03 Jul 2025

Photo: IMD - Instituto para Democracia Multipartidária

The Mozambican minister for justice on Wednesday considered that the post-election demonstrations were “legitimate expressions” of a people crying out for electoral justice, despite the violent episodes and human suffering they caused during the protests.

“The demonstrations in several cities were, for the most part, legitimate expressions of a people crying out for inclusive and dignified electoral justice. However, we cannot ignore that the demonstrations also led to acts of violence, causing fear, destruction and human suffering,” said Mateus Saize, Minister of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, in Maputo.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the first National Human Rights Forum, Saize said that “many citizens exercised their constitutionally enshrined rights,” namely the right to demonstrate and assemble, provided for in Article 50 of the Constitution of the Republic and also protected by the Declaration on the Defence of the Human Rights of the Peoples of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Political Rights.

Humrcomm.fb_ — *Photo: Comissão Nacional Dos Direitos Humanos – Moçambique*

The National Human Rights Forum is an opportunity for national reflection and inclusive dialogue, aimed at restoring confidence in institutions, strengthening the democratic rule of law and consolidating the values of democratic coexistence, said the minister, adding that this exercise must take place in a context of justice and freedom, as well as respect for public order and the integrity of persons and property.

“In places where there was an absence of law enforcement, acts of vandalism and violation of the law were recorded. The exercise of democratic rights cannot serve as a pretext for breaking the law,”Minister Saize said.

In the current cycle of governance, the minister explained, the government has committed itself to ratifying the International Convention for the protection of all persons from enforced disappearance and the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights.

Mateus Saize argued that legal instruments should not be “merely formal”, but should “guide public policies, legal reforms and institutional practices that are credible, independent and transparent”, with a view to building the rule of law, with shared responsibility where the Government, civil society, international partners and citizens act in a coordinated manner.

The minister even proposed some measures that could have a “transformative impact” on the administration and justice sectors: “Profound reforms of the electoral administration to ensure greater transparency, impartiality and confidence in the public administration system, civic education and a culture of peace, nurturing conscious citizens, continuous training of the police and security forces in human rights, ensuring professional and humane legal action, and strengthening justice and conflict resolution with the necessary mechanisms that are serious and close to the communities”.

Comm.fb_.fb_ — *Photo: Comissão Nacional Dos Direitos Humanos – Moçambique*

Mozambique experienced almost five months of social tension, with demonstrations, initially in protest against the election results of 9 October, called by former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, resulting in the death of 400 people and destruction of property.

The Mozambican government confirmed at least 80 deaths, in addition to the destruction of 1,677 commercial establishments, 177 schools and 23 health facilities during the demonstrations.

On 5 March, the Mozambican parties with seats in parliament and in municipal and provincial assemblies signed a political commitment with the Mozambican president aimed at state reforms, which was passed into law by the Mozambican parliament.

On 23 March, Mondlane and President Chapo met for the first time and a commitment was also made to end post-election violence in the country. They met again on 21 May with an agenda to pacify the country.

Source: Lusa