The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), a Mozambican non-governmental organization, revealed today in a report that the rights to freedom of expression and access to information were the "most sacrificed" in the first quarter of 2023 in the country.

In the report, the CDD highlights cases of aggression against journalist and broadcaster Rosário Adelino Cardoso, allegedly by the Border Police in Zambézia province, central Mozambique, without plausible justification.

"The rights most sacrificed in the first quarter of 2023 were the rights to freedom of expression and the press and access to information," says the report on the human rights situation released today.

The report goes on to highlight the case of Armindo Vilanculos, a journalist from Rádio Comunitária Kussinga (Inhambane province) who was summoned for questioning after exposing a corruption scheme involving a technician from the public company Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM).

"As you can see, suing journalists who denounce corruption schemes in public companies or companies in which the state has a stake is one of the ways in which media professionals are intimidated and persecuted," the document reads.

In addition to freedom of expression and access to information, the document highlights the case of the marches that were violently repressed on March 18 by the police throughout most of the country, as part of the tributes to the Mozambican social intervention rapper Azagaia, who died that month from an illness.

"The marches repressed by the police had been communicated to the relevant authorities [...] With these acts, the Police of the Republic of Mozambique violated the Constitution of the Republic, Article 51; Law No. 9/91 of July 18 and international human rights standards," the document states.

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 right to freedom of assembly and demonstration was seriously violated from January to March 2023. Several demonstrations and meetings were banned and violently repressed in violation of the legislation in force. There was no adequate response from the administration of justice sector," he concludes.