The Minister of Transport and Communications, Mateus Magala, called this Friday, 20 December, for measures to allow the responsible use of telecommunications services, which he says are being used, in the context of the post-election demonstrations, for ‘incitement to violence’.
‘We want to take this opportunity to urge all those involved in the regulation and provision of transport and communications services to implement measures that promote the safe and responsible use of transport and communications services, preserving the right to citizenship, life and the well-being of all citizens,’ said Mateus Magala, at the opening of the Ministry’s 42nd coordinating council in Maputo.
‘We are holding this coordinating council at a time when the country is going through a delicate moment in its history, as a result of the post-election tension characterised by demonstrations, some of which are violent in nature, resulting in the destruction of lives and public and private property,’ acknowledged the minister, quoted by Lusa.
The minister explained that, ‘in the process of mobilising and holding these demonstrations,’ it has been noted ‘with concern the irresponsible use of Mozambique’s telecommunications network to incite violence, hatred and revenge among Mozambicans, as well as the destruction of public and private roads and means of transport.’
On Wednesday (18), three civil society organisations submitted a complaint calling for the telecommunications operators to be held responsible (including compensation for the damage caused) for the recent blocking of Internet access in November, as part of the post-election demonstrations.
‘With the main action, the civil society organisations intend to guarantee the effective accountability of the entities involved, demand compensation for the damage caused and ensure the non-repetition of practices that undermine human rights and democratic principles,’ reads an article from the Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), in which the lawsuit is announced.
This is a joint action involving the CDD, the Centre for Public Integrity (CIP) and the Centre for Civil Society Learning and Empowerment (CESC), which in November filed an injunction against the operators Movitel, Vodacom and the state-owned Mozambique Telecom (Tmcel), shortly after limitations on Internet access were registered, with a favourable court decision in early December.
According to the CDD, the case will be accompanied by other actions that ‘will ensure that the operators are held accountable by the National Communications Institute of Mozambique, the country’s telecoms regulator.’
In November, Mateus Magala admitted that the restrictions on the Internet, especially on social networks, were the result of the operators’ own actions, so that the network would not be used to “destroy” the country, in the context of the post-election demonstrations.
At least 130 people have died since 21 October, according to a report this week by the Decide Electoral Platform (which monitors electoral processes in Mozambique), which also pointed to 385 people shot.
Presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane said on Monday (16), in a communication via the social network Facebook, that the proclamation of the results of the general elections by the Constitutional Council (CC), which is expected to take place on 23 December, will determine whether the country ‘moves towards peace or chaos.’
The results of the 9 October elections announced by the National Electoral Commission gave victory, with 70.67% of the votes, to Daniel Chapo, supported by the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), but they still need to be validated by the Constitutional Council, the last instance of appeal in electoral disputes.
