Mozambican police attack two journalists
29 Jul, 2021
What happened
Two Mozambican journalists, who were covering clashes between vendors and law enforcement agents, were last Friday physically attacked by municipal police, the latest in a string of attacks against media workers in that country.
The two journalists work for Catandica Community Radio, in the central province of Manica.
Club of Mozambique reported that the Catandica municipality had increased taxes the vendors should pay from 10 meticals (about 15 US cents) a day to 500 meticals a month, an increase of 92 percent.
The municipal officers then sought to collect the new levies but faced resistance from the vendors.
Upon realising that there were journalists following the developments, the three municipal officers attacked the reporters and grabbed their equipment.
MISA's position
MISA is concerned with the number of media violations in Mozambique and calls upon authorities such as the Catandica district police command and the district attorney’s office, to expeditiously investigate this case and bring the offenders to book.
Authorities should not interfere with journalists who are lawfully carrying their work.
The latest attack against media workers comes at a time when the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), has raised alarm on the surge in attacks against journalists covering protests.
About MISA
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) was founded in 1992. Its work focuses on promoting, and advocating for, the unhindered enjoyment of freedom of expression, access to information and a free, independent, diverse and pluralistic media.
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Latest media violations
Those affected:
Journalists
Journalists
Number affected:
2
2
Perpetrators:
Municipal police
Municipal police
Types of actors:
State
State
Location:
Catandica, Manica
Catandica, Manica