- PODENOS is offering a basic basket to more than 100 families
By Noémia Mendes
Maputo (MOZTIMES) – Members of the Optimistic Party for the Development of Mozambique (PODEMOS), have begun to assist the victims of police shootings throughout the country. The initiative consists of distributing basic baskets of food and legal aid to the victims of shooting during the demonstrations that began on 21 October 2024.
The General Secretary of PODEMOS, Sebastião Mussanhane, said that in this first phase more than 100 families will be covered, and priority will be given to those who are unable to work.
“We undertook a survey of the victims, who had suffered significant negative impacts, and can do nothing for themselves now. We are giving priority to these people now, but later we will expand to more victims”, said Mussanhane, adding that “currently the number is rising. Many families are contacting the party and they too need assistance”.
Mussanhane explains that this is an internal initiative of the party itself, as well as external supporters and partners, in order to help the victims of shootings.
In an interview with reporters, one of the victims benefitting from the basic basket distributed by PODEMOS said that he was hit by 18 rubber bullets fired by the police. Today he has assistance provided by PODEMOS, and no other body has approached him to find out about his situation.
“They call them rubber bullets, but for me, they weren’t rubber, because they were very hard. And when I asked the policeman to stop firing, he didn’t want to know. He swore and continued to fire at me,” said 26-year-old Alberto Manjate. When he woke up, he was in a hospital bed.
25 year old Zacarias André Sambo, another victim of police shooting, says a bullet hit him in the waist, as he was returning from work, during the confusion of the demonstrations. Without any help, he made his own way to the hospital.
“I’m traumatised now”, he said. “I panic whenever I hear the sound of shots, and I can’t walk very well. I was hit by a real bullet, and when I touched that part, I saw blood was spilling out”.
The Podemos General Secretary says the party will support the case opened against the General Commander of the Police. He recognised the importance “of holding people responsible for their acts. We are collaborating with various institutions who have been contacting the party in order to ensure criminal proceedings through the evidence we have, the information and the victims”. (NM)
