- Police brutality is continuing, despite the meeting between Daniel Chapo and Venâncio Mondlane aimed at ending violence
By Carlos Mhula
Xai-Xai (MOZTIMES) – On Wednesday, 26 March, officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR- the Mozambican riot police) fatally shot a 20-year-old man in the city of Xai-Xai, capital of Gaza Province, during protests by motorists against the reinstatement of a police checkpoint in Neighbourhood 8.
According to eyewitnesses, the victim, identified as Guiven Armando Bulule, was not taking part in the demonstration but happened to be near the area where transport operators were protesting. The incident sparked outrage, leading protesters to carry the body to the Gaza Provincial Police Command, where they were dispersed with tear gas.
"He wasn't part of the protest. He had gone into town to do some shopping. When he got there, the confusion had already started. He was shot in the mouth, and the bullet shattered all his teeth. He fell and was left without any assistance for a long time," Guiven's sister-in-law, Graciosa Muguambe, told MOZTIMES.
"The police said they had no means of transport to take him to hospital," she added.
The protest was against the reopening of a police checkpoint near the bridge over the Limpopo River, locally known as "Pontinha". Officers stationed at the checkpoint have faced repeated accusations of extorting money from motorists, especially drivers of the minibuses that provide much of the city's passenger transport, and are known colloquially as "chapas".
Police violence in Gaza has become a regular occurrence in the context of post-election protests.
On 22 March, 34 year old Estêvão Muane, a public transport driver on the Chonguene–Maputo route, was shot in the chest during demonstrations against the same checkpoint. Muane was hospitalised for six days and, after being discharged, went to the First Police Precinct to file a complaint against the officers responsible for the shooting.
"On Saturday, while I was picking up passengers, I found the road blocked by other drivers who said they were protesting against a police checkpoint. The police arrived, including the head of operations and the city commander, and ordered a crackdown. They started shooting and launching tear gas, and everybody ran," Muane told MOZTIMES.
"I tried to return to my car to retrieve my phone", he continued, "but when I approached, an officer named Miguel shot directly at me. The bullet hit me in the chest and I fell to the ground, crying for help, but no one came. I lay there bleeding for about 30 minutes until my colleagues took me to the hospital. I received treatment, but after I was discharged, I got no support and had to buy all the medication myself".
Carlos Macuácua, spokesperson for the Mozambican Police (PRM) in Gaza, confirmed the police action in an interview with MOZTIMES, claiming that the intervention was aimed at restoring public order.
"The police were called to deal with a public disturbance. Unfortunately, a citizen was accidentally injured, and one person lost his life," said Macuácua.
A meeting between President Daniel Chapo and opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane was held on 23 March to announce an end to violence carried out by the Defence and Security Forces against protesting youths, as well as to stop mob attacks against FDS officers.
Mondlane stated that he had reached agreement with Chapo to end post-election violence in Mozambique, saying the President had committed to taking measures to ensure the Defence and Security Forces cease their repressive actions.
Post-election protests have resulted in the deaths of at least 362 people in clashes between protesters and the police, according to the civil society platform "Decide". (MT)
