Mozambique: Protesters cross through Maputo without incident – photos

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Mozambique: Protesters cross through Maputo without incident – photos

9:01 CAT | 25 Jun 2023

Activists attend a peaceful march for freedom shouting words of social and political protest in the Square of Independence in Maputo, Mozambique, 24 June 2023. Organised by the New Democracy party, the march for freedom passed through the centre of Maputo without incident, in contrast to the police violence in response to a similar initiative three months ago. [Photo: Luisa Nhantumbo/Lusa] [Photo: Luisa Nhantumbo/Lusa]

A freedom march organised by the Nova Democracia party passed through the centre of Maputo on Saturday without incident, in contrast to the police violence that repressed a similar initiative three months ago, causing several injuries.

Saturday’s street action, announced during the week in the context of the 48th anniversary of independence on Sunday, was the first to voice political and social protest after years of systematic police repression of the right to demonstrate in Mozambique.

At an intersection on Avenida Eduardo Mondlane, there was applause “for democracy” when the march for freedom crossed paths with another, organised by the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the main opposition party and the second-largest parliamentary bench after the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), the party in power since independence.

In the midst of the ‘marching traffic’ was a light police presence, without tear gas or armoured vehicles, which accompanied the participants singing “Povo no Poder” by Azagaia, the rapper they had been unable to honour on March 18, a few days after the musician had died of an illness.

“People in power, yes, we are not afraid, no,” the lyrics read.

“Thieves out, corrupt out, murderers out” were among other verses with which Azagaia contested political power. Yesterday, between 100 to 200 people were singing these lyrics freely and at the top of their lungs on Eduardo Mondlane Avenue.

At first, around 08:00 a.m., there was still apprehension about what might happen, with some participants carrying face masks in case there was tear gas in the air again.

Then, at the start of the march, cheers could even be heard from the police: “Police are also citizens”, intoned the master of ceremonies from the goods vehicle that headed the action.

People on the streets also chanted the slogans as the group passed, waving in support from the balconies of apartments, the market area and even the windows of a courthouse.

The march for freedom was promoted by Nova Democracia, a party without parliamentary representation which, according to its leader, Salomão Muchanga, “is about freeing society from fear”.

“Never again will Mozambique be afraid to demonstrate. The profound meaning of this day is that we are managing to march, to demonstrate; we are freeing the citizens from fear,” he said, placing the initiative at a supra-party level, welcoming activists and participants regardless of political sympathies.

Asked by journalists what had changed for the action to go ahead uncontested, Salomão Muchanga said he had explained to the President of the Republic, Filipe Nyusi, “that demonstrating, marching, is not a favour, it is a right”.

“The police have revisited their ideals,” added Armando Mahumane, spokesman for the party and the organisation, after the repression they imposed on March 18, allegedly under orders from above, generated opposition both inside and outside the country.

The march wound through the heart of the capital from the statue of Eduardo Mondlane to that of Samora Machel in front of the Maputo municipal council, enlivened by the singing of Azagaia songs by all, including the master of ceremonies, who recalled: “If we don’t fight for freedom and dignity, nobody will.”

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