The non-governmental organization Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) today accused the Mozambican head of state of promoting a "campaign of intimidation" against citizens who tried to take part in the marches in honour of the social intervention rapper Azagaia.

"The President of the Republic is stepping up his campaign of threats and intimidation against defenseless citizens who took part in the peaceful march in honor of the rapper Azagaia. Filipe Nyusi has directed the Ministry of the Interior to `identify those who seek to take advantage of the individual virtue of the young rapper Azagaia to achieve their aims'. This is a very dangerous direction and once again reveals that the authoritarianism of the state is the result of instructions from a president," the CDD said in a note distributed to the media, quoted by Lusa.

At issue are statements made by the Mozambican head of state on Thursday about police repression against young people who were trying to organize a national march in homage to the Mozambican rapper Azagaia, who died on March 9 from an illness.

Filipe Nyusi then announced investigations into the police action at Saturday's marches and the identity of those who wanted to achieve "their intentions" with the homage to the `rapper' Azagaia, regretting the disturbances that took place.

For the CDD, the statements made by the head of state and also by the deputy general commander of the Mozambican police, Fernando Tsucana, were aimed at intimidating citizens, in violation of a constitutional right.

"And as if the police violence on March 18 wasn't enough to show the authoritarianism of the state, the General Police Command began a campaign of threats and intimidation against citizens, claiming that the promoters and organizers of the march were not musicians, but individuals linked to political parties, civil society and non-governmental organizations," says the CDD, which adds that the state must be held responsible for the episodes that left several people injured.

Several entities and organizations condemned the police violence, calling it one of the most visible signs of the limitations on freedom of expression and demonstration in the country. In total, according to the police, 14 people were injured and another 36 were arrested, although they are now being held in custody.

The Centre for Public Integrity (CIP), another Mozambican non-governmental organization, has submitted a complaint to the Attorney General's Office (PGR) against the Mozambican state "for acts of violation of human and fundamental rights by the police".

The organizers of the marches have also announced that they will appeal to national and foreign authorities to hold them accountable for what they classify as disproportionate force exercised by the police.