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Catholic Bishops in Mozambique Appeal for Peace, Respect to Life as Post Election Violence Surges

Members of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (CEM). Credit: CEM

Members of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (CEM) have appealed for peace, tolerance, and respect for life amid violence that erupted following the contested October 9 elections in the southern African country surges.

Protests erupted both before and after Mozambique’s electoral commission declared that the ruling party, Frelimo, had won the October 9 election, extending its 49-year hold on power.

Opposition candidates, civil society groups, and observers claimed the election was marred by fraud. At least 18 people have been killed in the protests. New opposition party Podemos and its presidential aspirant Venancio Mondlane have rejected provisional results of the polls that indicate a likely win for Frelimo’s candidate Daniel Chapo.

In a statement issued Wednesday, November 6, CEM members urge Mozambicans to exercise restraint and seek dialogue.

“In this tense moment, when many are preparing to express their concerns, as pastors, we feel the urgency to reach out to each of you with an appeal for peace, tolerance, and respect for life,” the Catholic Bishops say.

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They add, “Our society, though marked by various challenges, will not be truly transformed through violence. On the contrary, it is through dialogue, tolerance, and the tireless pursuit of just solutions that we will build a Mozambique desired by all.”

CEM members call for the respect of the right to protest, urging young people not to allow themselves to be manipulated by politicians.

“As we stated in our last communiqué, we call for respect for the right to peaceful protest, and we also warn participants not to allow themselves to be manipulated or drawn into acts of vandalism and destabilization,” the Catholic Church leaders say.

They underscore the importance of preserving life and avoiding bloodshed, saying, “We appeal for respect for every person’s life and for an end to the use of violence to stifle the protesters' aspirations, preventing bloodshed.”

On October 22, CEM members appealed for truth, peaceful dialogue, and an end to political violence, saying, “In the aftermath of the election, violence was once again used, and now it has been tainted with a cowardly ambush as a way of silencing, if not the truth, at least democracy.”

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The Catholic Bishops condemned the manipulation of young people into participating in violent protests and called for peaceful demonstrations.

João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.