Police favour Frelimo in election campaign | Police head transferred for not backing Frelimo | No escorts – Hanlon

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Police favour Frelimo in election campaign | Police head transferred for not backing Frelimo | No escorts – Hanlon

7:44 CAT | 23 Sep 2019

File photo: RM

Police favour Frelimo in election campaign

Since the beginning of the election campaign our correspondents across the country have reported cases of lack of impartiality, over-zealousness and inaction by police officers, always favouring Frelimo.

In Gurue, Zambezia, a Renamo supporter was brutally beaten by two police officers on his way back from campaign activities, allegedly for not carrying his ID card on the afternoon of September 14. Walking without an ID card is not a crime.

In Balama district, Cabo Delgado, police officers escorting the Frelimo caravan on Wednesday (18 September) in the village of Mualia witnessed a case of aggression by Frelimo sympathisers against a Renamo supporter at his business, which displayed Renamo posers. Police officers on the scene did not intervene to stop the victim from being beaten

In Mutarara district, Tete, two Renamo supporters were injured and evacuated to Inhangoma Health Post for hospital care after being beaten by Frelimo supporters during the election campaign on Tuesday, 17 September. The police witnessed the assaults. The case was referred to the Mutarara District Prosecutor’s Office for follow-up and there are no detainees, although

Police head transferred for not backing Frelimo

The head of the police operations command in Macossa district, Manica, Francisco Patricio, was removed from office and transferred to the provincial capital, Chimoio, after protests from Freimo. “I have no information on the reasons for my removal,” said Patricio.

But our correspondents’ investigation shows the removal of the agent comes after a series of complaints from senior Frelimo members that he escorted a Renamo caravan campaigning in the district.

On 10 September, Frelimo and Renamo parades met on the Mucombedzi bridge in the district. At the time, Particio, the senior officer on the scene, gave Renamo’s caravan priority to cross. Frelimo supporters accused him of serving Renamo interests.

Two days later, Patrick was advised to resign by the provincial police commander, the Director of Public Order in Manica, due to alleged pressure from the provincial Frelimo committee.

“Renamo asked for protection and I just did my duty,” said Partricio. “I did everything I could to make things not go wrong. Am I to be sacrificed for it?” he added.

The head of the operations command also allegedly refused an order from Frelimo to remove opposition flags and posters from the Macossa village market. “I did nothing wrong, I acted in accordance with the law,” said Patricio.

No escorts

At the beginning of the campaign, the police nationally promised escorts for all party parades. But our correspondents report widespread refusals to provide a escort. “Our caravan moves without police support even after we have handed our program to the police authorities,” Renamo’s delegate in Manica district told this Bulletin. In Gaza’s Bilene district, police refuse to escort MDM caravans when requested by the party, district party delegate Leonardo Macave told the Bulletin.

In Morrumbene, Inhambane district, MDM and Renamo have not been escorted by police during the campaign. Meanwhile, while traveling around the localities, Frelimo caravans are accompanied by 4 police officers.

By Joseph Hanlon

Source: 2019 General Elections - Mozambique Political Process Bulletin