MISA Mozambique repudiates the attitude of Arsénio Henriques, press attaché to the President of the Republic, who chased away journalists while covering the meeting of the National Association of National Liberation Struggle Combatants (ACLLN), one of the governing bodies of the Frelimo party, last Thursday.

Arsénio Henriques took this stance when Óscar Monteiro, a veteran of the National Liberation Struggle, made a vehement suggestion that the debate on the succession of Filipe Nyusi to the presidency of Frelimo and the Republic should be avoided.

"Óscar Monteiro was still speaking when the television images began to indicate turbulence in the capture until, finally, the signal was interrupted. It turned out to be Arsénio Henriques, the former STV journalist who is now the PR's press officer, grossly interfering in the work of the reporters invited and accredited by the Frelimo party to cover the event. Arsénio Henriques began by turning the television cameras on himself, before ordering the immediate removal of all the journalists who were in the room that had just been chilled by Óscar Monteiro's pronouncements.

In fact, an audio recording to which MISA had access shows that Óscar Monteiro was still confronting the president about the succession when the journalists were compulsorily removed by Arsénio Henriques. Several journalists who witnessed the case told MISA Mozambique that it was a humiliating, embarrassing episode and a total lack of respect for their profession".

The institution reminds Filipe Nyusi's attaché that journalism is not a "bag-pulling" activity, which can be limited by the press attachés when they choose to do so.

"On the contrary, this is a noble activity that is governed by constitutional principles that are above any press officer, principles that include the independence of journalists in the exercise of their profession. For MISA, it is unreasonable for a press officer to chase away reporters who have been invited to cover the event," says MISA Mozambique.

This action was more an act of censorship to prevent Óscar Monteiro's statements from being broadcast than any other alleged explanation, he writes.