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1000’s assembled in cities throughout Mozambique final week to pay tribute to Azagaia, a uncommon outspoken authorities critic who died on March 9 on the age of 38. Though the assemblies had been peaceable police fired tear gasoline and arrested some marchers.
Within the capital, Maputo, not less than 19 individuals had been injured, two of them critically. A type of injured misplaced a watch after a tear gasoline canister struck his face, in accordance with native experiences. Police additionally beat an unarmed man mendacity on the bottom earlier than dragging him right into a police automobile, in accordance with march organizers and a video circulating on-line.
Throughout Mozambique, 36 individuals had been arrested, 20 of them in Maputo, in accordance with a police assertion, which accused demonstrators of drunken and violent habits.
Organizers of the marches have obtained threatening messages warning them to not plans any additional demonstrations, stated Fardo.
The police actions to disperse the marches has drawn criticism from human rights watchdogs, together with Amnesty Worldwide and Human Rights Watch. The United Nations Human Rights Workplace issued a press release expressing concern over the “pointless and disproportionate use of drive by police amid peaceable marches” and known as for the discharge of those that have been arbitrarily detained.
Azagaia, whose actual title was Edson da Luz, was recognized for overtly condemning authorities corruption in his music and garnered a big following, notably amongst younger Mozambicans. He died of an epileptic seizure.
“This march goals to be the primary of many marches,” Venâncio Mondlane, a member of Mozambique’s Nationwide Meeting for the second largest opposition get together MDM, advised The Related Press on the demonstration final week. “This march turns a brand new web page within the historical past of Mozambique, simply as we had in 1975 (when Mozambique gained independence from Portugal).”
These nationwide demonstrations got here after Azagaia’s funeral procession, which noticed hundreds march via the streets of central Maputo chanting protest slogans reminiscent of “resistance” and “energy to the individuals.” Police fired tear gasoline to disperse the gang because it tried to hold Azagaia’s coffin previous Ponta Vermelha, the president’s official residence.
Mozambique has generally seen protests over the costs of gasoline and bread however such mass demonstrations celebrating opposition activists are uncommon.
The day after Azagaia died, a vigil was held in Maputo the place a whole bunch got here to listen to tributes, lots of which explicitly criticised the nation’s ruling get together Frelimo.
Azagaia achieved a passionate following, and notoriety, with songs reminiscent of “Povo no Poder” (“Energy to the Individuals”) which was launched in 2008 throughout protests over rising gasoline costs. The rapper accused politicians of stealing from abnormal individuals to steer lives of luxurious. It has since change into an anthem of opposition to the federal government. In different songs Azagaia commented on points reminiscent of police brutality and drug trafficking.
Whereas he was alive Azagaia was typically handled with hostility by the federal government. His songs had been usually censored on state media and the Legal professional Normal’s Workplace accused him of inciting violence following the discharge of “Povo no Poder.”
AP journalist Alexandre Nhampossa in Maputo, Mozambique, contributed.
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