Mozambique: Public consultation on media and broadcasting laws launched
Mozambique: Quelimane mayor fails to appear for court hearing in defamation case
4:51 CAT | 15 Feb 2021
File photo: DW
The trial of the mayor of Quelimane for alleged defamation against members of Frelimo and the MDM was due to start this Monday, but the Municipal Council has told the court that Manuel de Araújo is away on an “official trip” and cannot attend.
The Municipal Council says it sent the justice authorities a letter informing them of that fact in advance.
The alleged defamation and slander against members of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) and the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) were committed in 2019, when Araújo joined the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo).
Since taking office as president of Quelimane Municipal Council in February, 2019, the mayor’s name has been heard in several court cases in the city, raising eyebrows among his supporters.
Commentator Lourindo Verde says that all cases linked to Araújo are of a political nature, and that the mayor is surrounded by “false friends” and would no doubt have committed some [political] “sins”.
“This question of changing parties from one moment to the next is Manuel de Araújo’s first sin. The second is what we have seen across the country – that the management of public affairs has not been altogether transparent. Manuel de Araújo is in a party that supports him. If you are not accredited at your party level, the probability is that in the next election he will be out,“ Lourinho Verde says..
“He will be convicted”
Those allegedly offended are two MDM members and one Frelimo member, currently serving as administrator of the district of Maganja da Costa in the north of Zambézia. The mayor is accused insulting the trio when he took office as mayor of Quelimane.
MDM member José Lobo was one of the targets of the alleged offense, and says that the purpose of the complaint is not to penalise Araújo, but to take him in court. He denies any kind of political persecution against the Quelimane mayor.
“Araújo’s problem is the way he manages matters. He will be condemned in all these cases. [He will] have to do everything to clean up his image. Righteous men must have the courage to apologise,” Lobo says.
“It’s news to me” – Renamo delegate
For lawyer Simões Dauce, the problems that Araújo faces are too small to endanger his political career.
According to the Criminal Code of Mozambique, defamation can be punished with up to one year in prison and a corresponding fine, while Dauce explains that lawsuits of this nature can only affect politicians’ candidacies when they are sentenced to longer prison terms.
“From two to eight years, from eight to 12, from 12 to 16, in those cases there may be some foundation for the loss of mandate,” he says.
Renamo delegate in Zambezia, Maria Elisa, told DW Africa that none of the complaints against Manuel de Araújo are known to the party, to which nothing had been presented.
“It’s news to me. I have no knowledge [of it].” she said. “As a delegate, I will contact the mayor to find out what is happening.”
Source: Deutsche Welle
Show comments
Also read
Leave a Reply
Be the First to Comment!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
You must be logged in to post a comment.