CNDH condemns “indiscriminate” use of force by police
Mozambique’s National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) has condemned the “indiscriminate” use of force by the police against demonstrators and supporters of Renamo, the largest opposition party, who marched on Friday in protest against the results of the municipal elections, held on 11 October, which they regard as fraudulent.
The CNDH chairperson, Luís Bitone, told reporters on Monday that the police had been using live ammunition “we are seeing it at some points, because the bullets are real and aimed indiscriminately.
According to Bitone, police officers must be trained to use alternative means to real bullets, so as not to put the lives and physical integrity of the demonstrators at risk.
The chairperson of the CNDH also called on supporters of opposition parties contesting the results of the October 11 local elections to respect the law.
“Demonstrating is a right, but it must be in line with the legal framework”, Bitone said, adding that the exercise of a right must not jeopardize the rights of other citizens, causing damage to property or injury to citizens.
According to the anti-corruption NGO, the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), a police officer and a young man died during demonstrations in Nampula and Nacala against the results of the local elections.
In connection with the riots, in the cities of Maputo, Nampula, Nacala and Quelimane, the Mozambican police (PRM) announced the arrests of 101 people.
The police accused Renamo of making and using home-made bombs in the demonstrations against the election results in Nampula, “which injured one riot police officer and led to the amputation of his forearm.'
The preliminary election results were announced by the National Elections Commission (CNE) on Thursday, despite its admission that they were marred by a large number of irregularities.
Those results claimed that the ruling Frelimo Party had won in all 65 municipalities except the central city of Beira, which was won by the second opposition party, the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM).
But parallel counts by credible observer groups based on the polling station results sheets (“editais”) show that, in reality, Renamo won in several major cities including Maputo, Matola, Nampula and Quelimane.
The results of the ballot still have to be validated and proclaimed by the Constitutional Council (CC), the country’s highest body in matters of constitutional and electoral law.
