The Attorney General's Office (PGR) warned on Wednesday (30) that calls for disorder and insurrection or incitement to hatred, racism, violence or war are punishable by a prison sentence of up to eight years, under the terms of the law.

According to the PGR, in a warning issued the day before the start of the third phase of the "national strike", participants in the demonstrations have been vandalizing public and private property, setting fire to public buildings and placing barricades on public roads, preventing the free movement of people and goods.

The violent actions carried out by the demonstrators have caused "serious consequences for people's lives and integrity, as well as significant damage to the state's economy and security," the statement said.

Following the release of the results published by the National Electoral Commission (CNE), one of the candidates (Venâncio Mondlane) and the party that supports him (Podemos) have been inciting young people and the population in general to join demonstrations in alleged protest at the election results, through videos circulated on social networks, says the PGR.

"Under the terms of article 51 of the Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique, demonstrations are a fundamental right and must be held in accordance with the rules laid down by law. According to the law, the promoters of the meeting or demonstration are responsible for its organization and must ensure that it does not deviate from its original purpose and anyone who deviates from the objectives of the meeting or demonstration and causes material or personal damage is punished under the terms of the law," the statement said.

The PGR recalls that the Public Prosecutor's Office, within the scope of its constitutional and legal powers, has been holding the moral and material perpetrators of these acts responsible.

In this sense, it calls on all political and social actors to act in compliance with the law, and discourages all citizens in general from organizing and joining demonstrations that violate the law.

"Candidates, members and supporters of political parties are urged to engage in dialogue and act in strict compliance with the established procedures and rules," he said.

It also calls on civil society organizations, religious denominations and other players in society to raise awareness, especially among young people and other citizens, of a culture of peace and harmony, contributing to the consolidation of the Mozambican democratic rule of law.

(Photo DR)