AFRICA/MOZAMBIQUE - “If politics is not capable of changing this intolerable economic situation, we are afraid that the violence in the country will spread,” Bishops say.

Maputo (Agenzia Fides) - “We are extremely worried about the country’s situation, due to the continued protests in Maputo, Chowke, Chibuto, Mandjlakazi, Jangamo, and Chimoio,” a February 20th statement issued by the Bishops’ Conference of Mozambique, and recently sent to Agenzia Fides, reads. The local bishops refer to the most violent acts that Mozambique has seen since the end of the civil war in 1992. On February 5th, a popular protest broke out due to the rising prices of city transport. Following intense demonstrations, the government decided to nullify the increase on taxes, but the disturbance has marked the country. In the fighting, at least 3 people died and about a hundred were wounded. An additional 2,000 cars and hundreds of public and private buildings were vandalized.
The Bishops lament the loss of human lives and the vandalism, express their condolences to the victims’ families. In the message, they spoke of the increased cost of transportation and first aid materials, due to the rise of gas prices, that has not been compensated by a raise in salaries. “This situation is a consequence of the widespread corruption, especially in the public sector. What is most worrisome for the citizens is to witness the fact that the fight against corruption is not carried out with determination,” the Bishops lamented.
The message continued: “The people are tired of seeing the ever-growing economic prosperity of a mysteriously rich elite, while the majority of the population lacks basic living necessities. If politics is not capable of changing this intolerable economic situation, we are afraid that the violence in the country will spread.”
The situation of severe injustice, the Bishops say, does not “permit the use of violence by anyone. We, the Bishops, do not approve of this path.”
“We do not ignore the fact that intense suffering can ignite anger and become an interference in the right use of reason. However, we cannot, for that reason, excuse violence. We ask that the people carry out demonstrations in a pacific and orderly manner. Mozambique is a democratic nation and therefore, citizens have the right and duty to manifest their own needs,” the Bishops’ Conference stated.
“The police, as guardians of the public order, are called to intervene to reestablish order. However, we do not condone the usage of excessive force in doing so. Using live ammunition to break up demonstrators is incomprehensible and unacceptable because it is a threat to people’s lives,” the Bishops said, rejecting the claim that, “if a person is hit, it is their own fault: we condemn this thought, as it neither corresponds to the truth nor to the rights of citizens.”
“It is urgently necessary that we once again take up the fight against poverty. It is also necessary that citizens be better informed on the actions of the government, so that they do not feel like mere objects in government dealings, but rather as active subjects in the fight against the causes of poverty,” the Bishops concluded. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 28/2/2008; righe 38, parole 496)