(MISA/IFEX) – On 28 June 2005, “Zambeze” weekly newspaper photojournalist Luis Muianga was brutally beaten by a group of municipal police while working in downtown Maputo. According to a report in the 19 June edition of “Diário de Notícias”, Muianga and colleague Raul Senda were working on a story about an impending taxi fare increase […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 28 June 2005, “Zambeze” weekly newspaper photojournalist Luis Muianga was brutally beaten by a group of municipal police while working in downtown Maputo.
According to a report in the 19 June edition of “Diário de Notícias”, Muianga and colleague Raul Senda were working on a story about an impending taxi fare increase caused by this month’s 40 percent oil price increase.
Muianga told MISA-Mozambique that he and his colleague were doing their jobs when they noticed skirmishes nearby and decided to take some photographs. They realised that municipal police officers were chasing street vendors and seizing their products.
“When I was taking pictures I was approached by a man in civilian clothes who asked me who I was. I told him, ‘a reporter’ and he asked [me] to identify myself and I complied immediately. Off he went and came back with a group [of] seven policemen and they started to hit me.”
Muianga and his colleague were hit repeatedly and were eventually thrown into the police van and taken to the station where he was questioned.
“After the questioning they acknowledged their mistake and released me and my colleague,” Muianga said, adding that Senda’s cellphone was momentarily seized by the police.
Municipal Police Commander Alberto Muchanga has since publicly apologised for the incident. He promised that those responsible for the act would not go unpunished, and added that violence should not be used by the police.
