The actions of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) are aimed at maintaining public order and protecting citizens and not at repression, according to the Minister of the Interior, Pascoal Ronda.

Speaking on Wednesday (01) at the Assembly of the Republic, he implied that the proportionality of the PRM's intervention is to contain tempers and maintain order and security.

"PRM does not suppress demonstrations, it protects peaceful demonstrations. However, when they become violent, PRM is forced to intervene to guarantee the protection of citizens, their property and the normal functioning of public and private institutions," he said.

Meanwhile, Ronda acknowledged that the recent social upheavals had resulted in damage, and questioned how proportional they would have been without police intervention. "Imagine what the situation would be like if they [the police] had been inactive."

Quoted by AIM, Ronda revealed that 130 demonstrations were recorded in the country, 25 of which were violent in Nampula (09), Zambézia (06), Maputo City (06), Cabo Delgado (01), Niassa (01), Tete (01) and Sofala (01).

As a result, 33 criminal cases were filed with 237 people arrested, in Nampula (149), Zambézia (33), Maputo City (23), Niassa (16), Sofala (11) and Tete (05).

"As a result of the crimes described above, we regrettably recorded the loss of one citizen, in the province of Cabo Delgado [north of the country], 29 citizens injured, being Nampula [north] (25) and Zambézia [center] (04)," he said.

The hitherto largest opposition party in Mozambique, Renamo, lost all the municipalities it governed, including important cities such as Nampula and Quelimane.