Mozambique: Unions disown calls for demonstrations

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Mozambique: Unions disown calls for demonstrations

5:16 CAT | 13 Jul 2022

File photo: Lusa

Mozambican trade unions have urged the public to ignore anonymous messages circulating on social media calling for mass demonstrations on Thursday against the rising cost of living.

One such message, on WhatsApp says: “14 July, nobody must go onto the streets. We ask all drivers to park their chapas (minibus-taxis) and private vehicles”. The reasons for what the senders of the message wrongly call a “strike” are listed as “fuel, cost of living, wage increase, better living conditions”.

Another message says “Mozambican brothers, let’s wake up, life is difficult… This government is humiliating us, they are killing us, and so we should follow the example of South Africa” (a reference to the violent demonstrations on South African roads last week).

“Let’s close down everything tomorrow”, continues the message. No vehicles of any type should circulate. “We are willing to fight for the good of our children”, it concludes.

There is not the slightest indication of where these messages come from, and the trade union movement issued a statement on Wednesday dissociating itself from calls for demonstrations or strikes.

The statement urged all workers “to remain calm, serene and vigilant against any manoeuvres and diversions”.

Far from going on strike, it added, workers should continue to participate in production “and tomorrow (Thursday) they should present themselves at their workplaces throughout the country”.

The unions urged all Mozambicans “not to become involved in acts of vandalism or other abnormal practices”. They should obey “solely and exclusively the guidelines given centrally by the unions”.

This short statement was signed by the country’s two trade union federations, the Mozambican Workers’ Organisation (OTM), and the Confederation of Free and Independent Unions of Mozambique (Consilmo), as well as by the national organisations of journalists, teachers and doctors.

Source: AIM