The National Union of Journalists (SNJ) says that the wave of post-election violence, which is taking place across the country, has been affecting the work of journalists, and there have even been situations of veiled threats to their physical integrity and that of their families.

In a statement, the SNJ said that the violence against the media has also included the destruction and/or confiscation of work equipment, such as reporting equipment, cell phones and vehicles belonging to media companies, acts which, according to the organization, seriously violate the rights to exercise journalistic activity and press freedom enshrined in the Mozambican legal system.

By way of example, SNJ cites professionals from Rádio Moçambique (RM) who have been threatened at different times; company vehicles have been vandalized and professionals injured, the most recent case being on November 18, on National Road 04 in the city of Matola, when, in the early hours of the morning, individuals blocked the road, stopped the car and forced its occupants to set fire to the vehicle.

The SNJ also says in its document that there have also been situations of excesses on the part of the Police of the Republic of Mozambique, which have influenced the work of journalists in recent weeks.

"This is the case of the usurpation of material and the obligation to delete recordings, on November 14, in the Namicopo neighborhood, in the city of Nampula, where two professionals from Rádio e Televisão Encontro were covering a demonstration."

The SNJ was also concerned about the detention of journalists working for foreign media outlets while they were carrying out their activities.

The Executive Secretariat of the National Union of Journalists reiterates that it respects the right of any citizen to demonstrate and demand whatever they want. However, it maintains that, in this exercise, national or foreign media outlets and their professionals should be allowed to work freely, without intimidation of any kind and in strict compliance with their editorial guidelines.

The SNJ is sending a message to the demonstrators and their supporters to allow media professionals to carry out their work freely and without threats to their integrity and that of their media, regardless of the editorial guidelines of each news outlet.

Politicians to avoid hate speech directed at media professionals and/or news organizations as a way of legitimizing their demands during demonstrations or other events.

And the Defense and Security Forces to allow media professionals to work freely and without any threats, guaranteeing their protection from the risk associated with the violent demonstrations that have taken place in recent days.

The union ends by calling on the living forces of society to resolve their differences peacefully and takes this opportunity to show solidarity with media professionals and news organizations who have been victims of violence following the post-election tension in the country.