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The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, strongly condemns the double murder of  Mozambique opposition (Podemos) political party’s lawyer (Elvino Dias) and representative (Paulo Guambe) on Friday 18 October 2024. The two were killed just hours before the start of planned protests challenging the results of the country’s elections held on 9 October 2024. There are concerns over allegations that these elections were altered unjustifiably to favour the ruling party, Frelimo, which is seeking to maintain its 49-year uninterrupted grip on power. Since the sad development on Friday, reports from the country reveal excessive use of force, including the police firing tear gas at independent presidential candidate Venânciao Mondlane and his supporters on 21 October 2024, who had gathered at the scene where Dias and Guambe were killed.

The Centre is deeply concerned about these developments, which highlight the alarming climate of violence and violation of human rights in Mozambique, particularly the targeting of individuals who dare to dissent. The killing of Dias and Guambe is reminiscent of the killing of a good friend and esteemed colleague of the Centre (Professor Gilles Cistac of the Faculty of Law at Eduardo Mondlane University), which we still recall with grave sadness. Regrettably, the perpetrators of this were never brought to justice.

These developments go contra to several rights guaranteed under Mozambican Constitution including the right to life (article 40), the right to liberty and security (article 59), the right to freedom of assembly and demonstration (article 51), freedom of association (article 52), and the freedom to form, participate in and join political parties (article 53). These rights are also enshrined in the instruments ratified by Mozambique at the global and regional level, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Acts of violence as those seen in Mozambique undermines the rule of law and instil fear in citizens, silencing their voices and effectively discouraging meaningful engagement in the political process. The right to dissent and political participation are foundational pillars of a thriving democracy. The strength of a democracy lies in its ability to accommodate dissent and promote peaceful political discourse. Individuals and political parties must be able to participate in elections and all other activities of government freely and without fear.

The Centre calls on the authorities to conduct a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into these heinous acts and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. Doing this is incumbent on Mozambiqe as a State party to the Protocol establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which in an analogous case, Norbert Zongo v. Burkina Faso, required the State to reopen an investigation that faltered at the national level, and investigate and bring to book the extrajudicial killing of Zongo.

It is also imperative that Mozambique reaffirms its commitment to human rights, upholds freedom of expression and association, and fosters an environment where diverse voices are welcomed and protected to ensure lasting stability and democratic progress.


For more information, contact:

Manager: Democracy and Civic Engagement Unit
Manager: Litigation and Implementation Unit

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