By CF
Even without the presence of Venâncio Mondlane, who had promised to be present but was unable to be there for security reasons, his supporters did everything they could to reach the center of the city of Maputo to carry out the “victory march” this Thursday. At several points, protesters grouped together with the intention of marching towards the city center of Maputo.
But since Wednesday night the police and military were positioned at strategic points to prevent protesters from reaching the center of the capital city. But because the protesters insisted on wanting to move forward with their marches, the Police resorted to firing tear gas, rubber bullets and even live bullets to suppress the protesters.
Roughly speaking, protesters responded by throwing stones or setting tires on fire. Vladimir Lenin Avenue, named after the Russian revolutionary, was one of the epicenters of the demonstrations. Thousands of protesters from several surrounding neighborhoods gathered to reach the city center. But the police cordon did everything to prevent them from advancing. In fact, this was a constant in several parts of the city of Maputo where protesters tried to break through the police cordons and the Police did everything they could to make the protesters retreat.
But for the first time since the demonstrations called by presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane began, a group of protesters managed to reach the center of Maputo city. The protesters managed to evade the various police barriers and reached the area where the Electricidade de Moçambique building is located on Avenida Eduardo Mondlane. Here the police used the usual tear gas to suppress the protesters. They fled in various directions, but as they fled they set fire to rubbish bins and tires.
Parts of Avenida Eduardo Mondlane and adjacent streets were covered in black smoke in a scenario that until now only happened in suburban neighborhoods. On this same avenue, a black car was seen whose occupants fired whenever they saw a crowd of people. In fact, in some neighborhoods, plainclothes police were also seen firing live bullets at the fleeing protesters.
The police once again fired tear gas into homes even though the residents were not involved in the demonstrations. In fact, one of the consequences of the demonstrations is the lack of preparation of the Police to deal with demonstrations. The Police do not seem to have a clear protocol that they must follow when repressing demonstrations. And in some cases there appear to be two commands. On the one hand, a Police that dialogues with the protesters and another that simply fires tear gas. This Thursday there is information that at least four people died as a result of police bullets.
Venâncio Mondlane says the demonstrations will continue The presidential candidate, Venâncio Mondlane, announced this Thursday that the demonstrations will continue until the electoral truth is restored. Mondlane, who lives in exile in an uncertain part, promised to give details of the actions to be carried out. However, calls are coming from various quarters of society to find a solution to the current situation in the country.
A relevant fact in this Thursday’s demonstrations is that internet service restrictions did not prevent protesters from mobilizing. In several neighborhoods in the city of Maputo, crowds gathered to participate in the demonstrations. (Moz24h)
