mozanorte - News of North of Mozambique

 

A journalist was detained by the police while carrying out his work in Mecanhelas, Niassa province in northern of Mozambique in an attempt to hinder his reporting, showing hostility toward press freedom in the country.

According to Mozanorte's findings, the police detained the journalist while he was covering a teachers' protest in Mecanhelas, a public event attended by several people. This occurred on the morning of January 17.

After a march by the teachers that ended at the District Service for Education, Youth, and Technology, a police team, including the director of SISE and the commander of the PRM, arrived at the scene and threatened the journalist. "You here again?" the SISE director asked the journalist.

As the police were leaving the location, they detained the journalist, who was properly accredited, and took him to their headquarters, where his work materials were confiscated.

After several hours of interrogation, the journalist was released, though his cellphone was not returned. The materials were given back around 3:30 PM.

In less than two months, this is the first time the Security Forces, particularly the SISE director, have taken such action against journalists in that district, with the first incident occurring on October 25, during the coverage of a peaceful demonstration by supporters of PODEMOS, which resulted in shootings. (Mozanorte)