The civil society organization, Women's Observatory, accused the current government of using the consequences of the pandemic to restrict the right to demonstrate. In its perspective, an "autocratic system" is emerging in Mozambique.

According to the NGO's executive secretary, quoted by Lusa, today in Mozambique there is "a contaminated installed system" where the political power decides "on everything that has to do with citizens' freedoms.

At issue are the constant bans on organizing and carrying out peaceful marches carried out by the Police of the Republic of Mozambique.

Quitéria Guirengane recalled, during the interview, that the Mozambican constitution allows peaceful demonstrations without the need for prior authorization.

But the authorities have claimed lack of validation from municipal authorities or the restrictions imposed by the covid-19 pandemic, and there have even been episodes where activists have been arrested.

In addition to the Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique, which provides in article 51 that "all citizens have the right to demonstrate," the country also has a Law of Demonstrations, passed in 2001.

The legal instrument defines, in article 3(1), that "all citizens may peacefully and freely exercise their right to assemble and demonstrate, without any authorization under the terms of the law."

For the Women's Observatory, which brings together more than 40 civil society organizations, the "political power" is "taking advantage" of the pandemic to limit the rights of citizens, who often take to the streets to demand government measures or to complain against "unfair" policies on issues of public interest.

"Even when they comply with all the elements that are provided by law to hold demonstrations, there is a boycott [by the authorities], a violation of everything that is in the law," said the activist, who in December was arrested, along with 17 other women, for leading a demonstration demanding a speedy trial of criminal cases related to cases of domestic violence in Maputo.

The episode led the organization to file a criminal complaint, for alleged illegal arrest and violation of the right to demonstrate, against the Mozambican police officers who conducted the operation, demanding that the Ministry of the Interior pay compensation of 100,000 meticais for moral damages.