Ernesto Nhanale, Journalism Professor
Maputo (MOZTIMES) - In such trying times for Mozambique, marked by demonstrations, police violence and murders of defenceless citizens, manipulation of information, abuses of freedom of press, threats, intimidation, courage is essential to be able to tell the truth and condemn injustice.
In the current situation, the Mozambican society is totally polarized and reaching a peak of violence, in the face of demands for election results that many of the stakeholders involved in the process and a significant group of citizens consider it to be flawed and manipulated, after various elements of fraud were presented through the media and social networks.
On one hand, the demands and demonstrations called by the Presidential candidate of the PODEMOS Party, Venâncio Mondlane, all over the country, have been violently repressed by the police, with the use of indiscriminate firing of tear gas and gunshots against citizens at demonstrations and others in their houses who have been victims of death, serious injuries and other types of traumas. Faced with the inaction of the country's leadership and the feeling of injustice of the people targeted and victims of police violence; has led to acts of rebellion and a clear disavowal of the state, with situations of attacks on police stations, burning of private property, FRELIMO Party´s headquarters, in a witnessed public disorder, for example, at the administrative post of Chalaua, in the district of Moma, Mecanhalas, Gondola, Chimoio, Mandimba and others.
These actions are even affecting the environment of freedom of expression, having reached the height of undue manipulation of internet services to reduce the right to expression. This is a measure that has been explicitly taken by the state authorities to control and contain the circulation of information about the strike, the exposure of police violence and, why not, the communications of the PODEMOS candidate who, not having the support of the traditional media, uses social networks (Facebook and Youtube) to maintain communications with his supporters and other social groups interested in his communications.
While actions to block freedom of expression are taking place, we are also witnessing an upsurge in the strategy that we have always subscribed to: disinformation and manipulation of the facts in progress; through a group of opinion-makers, duly assembled, on television and social networks, to promote hate speech, counter-scheduling and repressing any form of denunciation against the electoral crimes that are being committed, the murders and police violence.
Even with the propaganda actions, the silencing of the public media and the restrictions placed on the Internet in order to create silence on the problems and violence taking place throughout the country, there can be no doubt that the country is experiencing a deep crisis.
The solution to these problems is not to hide them, but to denounce and confront them. But this requires courage. We need the strength and verticality evident in the Catholic bishops' message, which clearly, directly and sharply repudiates electoral fraud, the urgent need to restore electoral truth, the need to rethink the electoral management model, the repudiation of violence, the need for a commitment to the well-being of all, the non-manipulation of vulnerable youth by desperation for a better future. In their pastoral letter, the Catholic Bishops not only denounce, but call for dialogue and, finally, the idea that electoral fraud in 2024 is so evident that the idea of creating a government of National Unity should be considered.
If, on one hand, the National Committee of Elections (CNE), on October 24, rubber-stamped FRELIMO's victory by 70%, in minutes that they acknowledged having verified problems in the figures and having received clear evidence that there had been fraud; conversely , the same CNE is apathetic and validates the same results that it mentions there are problems with and that should be investigated, this body clearly shows its lack of commitment to truth and electoral justice. For it makes no sense for the same board members who sign the minutes to acknowledge irregularities that should be investigated, but at the same time validate the results. The president of the CNE indirectly argued for this measure due to the pressure of deadlines, but no deadline should, of course, call into question the need to clarify the problems reported by the CNE. There is no law obliging the CNE to approve minutes and results tainted by the pressure of time.
The More Integrity Consortium (Consórcio Mais Integridade) and the European Union Observation Mission (Missão da Observação da União Europeia) have made it clear that the public notices and, consequently, the numbers of votes, are questionable due to the levels of manipulation and distortion they suffer, from the time of registration to the counting at the polling stations, to the district and provincial tabulation. These findings and evidence have been presented to the public, which has led to a significant section of society, even in the midst of threats and deaths, to object the results presented by the CNE.
This wave of violence has already caused victims and destruction; we cannot be hypocrites and not recognize the legitimacy of the demands; however, it is important that we recognize as a country that the solution to these problems does not lie in violence. We need to stop violence and the unnecessary bloodshed of innocent citizens. Thus, it is important that all parties involved are committed to the truth and electoral justice. The proposal of the Catholic Bishops and other segments of society, including FRELIMO's own Political Commission, for dialog and inclusion is valid.
The country cannot continue to be fed lies, manipulation and violence. Instead of winking at the evidence of fraud, the Constitutional Council should strip itself of partisan influences and make a fair judgment on the dispute submitted by PODEMOS, in order to guarantee social peace. Since PODEMOS submitted its objection to the CNE's validation of the elections on October 27, our invitation is that, instead of the days of terror announced by Candidate VM (Venâncio Mondlane), other pressure strategies be used, through the public space, to discuss the evidence presented and, on the other hand, explore the spaces for dialogue that have been established.
Instead of 25 days of violence, let there be 25 days of prayer that God will not allow corruption, lies, manipulation, greed, kidnappings, violence and the use of the state for private means of the leaders to win in Mozambique. We must get down on our knees so that those who are responsible for restoring electoral truth, the Constitutional Council (CC), can do so in the name of truth and justice. (EN)
