UK concerned about freedom of expression in Mozambique

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UK concerned about freedom of expression in Mozambique

4:49 CAT | 09 Jun 2016

The High Commissioner of the United Kingdom in Mozambique yesterday expressed concern about freedom of expression in Mozambique, warning of a growing trend of cases of political violence in the country.

“We are are very concerned about freedom of expression and freedom of the press in Mozambique,” Joanna Kuenssberg told the press.

Freedom of expression and of the press, Kuenssberg said, are essential to the rule of law and must be observed with meticulousness in Mozambique.

“Respect for these human rights is fundamental,” said the High Commissioner, noting that this is a precondition for the consolidation of Mozambique as a modern state.

Recent attacks on journalists, politicians, academics and judges have shaken the country, and remain mostly unsolved.

At a time when the political crisis in Mozambique is worsening, with military confrontations between the Defence and security Forces and the armed wing of the largest country’s opposition party, the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), Kuenssberg voiced concern about the consequences of political violence, saying stability was a precondition for development.

The British diplomat welcomed the fact that the government and Renamo were resuming negotiations after a hiatus of several months, but said that the process must produce results that immediately stop military clashes .

“It is vital that the next steps in the negotiations produce results,” she said.

Mozambique has seen a worsening of its political crisis recently, with the opposing forces accusing each other of a series of abductions and assassinations. Mozambican authorities have attributed attacks on civilian and military vehicles on the country’s main highways to the armed wing of the main opposition party.

Renamo has accused the governing Frelimo party of electoral fraud, and has demanded that it assume the governance of the six central and northern provinces where it claims victory in the 2014 general elections.

Source: Lusa