War in the Star Market: When the Police Use Force to Resolve Personal Matters of its Leaders

Alípio Freeman"

The recent and regrettable invasion of the Estrela Market in Maputo by the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) is a grim portrait of the relationship established between the defence and security forces and the civilian population. Under the pretext of recovering a mobile phone stolen from a commander, a police force that is not even seen when there are robberies or kidnappings was mobilised, involving almost all operational categories of the PRM, transforming a commercial and residential area into a veritable war zone with an unknown enemy. What we saw, in a shocking way, was a shameful, abusive and unprecedented demonstration of force, not because of its intensity in itself, but because of what it reveals: a contingent strongly determined to trample on everything and everyone because of a cell phone, disregarding the rights of citizens, violating them systematically and with impunity, especially when the interests affected concern an individual. This is not the first time that the Mercado Estrela has been the scene of a violent operation, motivated by the loss of property belonging to figures with political or institutional power. However, the senseless violence used in these actions, including the indiscriminate use of tear gas, in the middle of a residential area and close to educational institutions, exposes a serious lack of intelligence, professionalism and empathy on the part of the agents involved, an inexplicable brutality. The complicit silence of the Attorney General's Office and other institutions that should be the guarantors of the rule of law casts a worrying stain on the nation's commitment to democratic principles and human rights. The Mozambican people, especially in the post-election period, have demonstrated greater civic awareness and the ability to relate to facts. And they have rightly demanded a high price for the abuse of their constitutional rights. It is important to recognise that informal markets such as Estrela are not an exclusively Mozambican phenomenon. They are present in almost every economy in the world, including the most developed ones. In Mozambique, these spaces are one of the few buffers against the chronic unemployment crisis that afflicts the country. They generate thousands of livelihood opportunities that, if they did not exist, would plunge the country into an even greater social abyss. Ignoring this fact, or treating those involved as marginalised by default, is a clear sign of the authorities’ alienation from the reality of the people. There is no denying that illegal practices may exist in informal markets. However, it is the State's duty to act intelligently and professionally, always respecting the limits of the law. It is unacceptable that the investigation of a theft should turn into a collective punitive action, which culminates in the seizure of innocent citizens' phones, the destruction of property, and the spreading of fear in a space where peace, security and development should be promoted. The most worrying thing, however, is that the operation in the Mercado Estrela does not seem to have had justice as its objective, but rather revenge. And revenge, when carried out by agents of the State, is the antithesis of legality. This is a disproportionate and politically motivated use of military resources, and it seems that the fact that these vendors fearlessly show their support for the opposition does not please the regime, which clearly sees them as enemies, an attitude typical of dictatorships that always seek enemies in those who do not agree with their actions. It cannot be normal to use so much force and means that cost thousands of meticais to the public coffers, to respond to a personal problem. This highlights not only the ethical failure within the FDSs, but also the lack of control and accountability over its members. It is legitimate to ask: if the stolen goods did not belong to an elite figure, would there have been such a mobilization? And furthermore: if the police are aware that the market functions as a warehouse for stolen goods, why do they not act systematically, preventively, legally and with evidence? Why do they only act when the interests of the powerful are affected? The image that is being conveyed to society is that of a police force that serves the elite and not the people. And this dangerously undermines efforts to rebuild social harmony, which is so necessary in a still fragile political context. Worse still, it normalizes brutality and impunity as instruments of governance. There is no doubt that Mozambique urgently needs profound reforms in the security sector. Reforms that involve humanistic training, strengthening investigative intelligence, exemplary punishment of excesses and strengthening oversight institutions. The continued marginalization of informal markets, without any alternative for socioeconomic inclusion, reveals not only bad faith, but also government incompetence. As long as this repressive and selective mentality persists, the country will continue to move in the opposite direction to democracy. And the people, increasingly informed and aware, will no longer remain silent. Institutional silence in the face of blatant violations such as the one at Mercado Estrela is also a political choice, and the people have already realised this. Governments need to understand that brute force does not erase pain or collective memory. On the contrary, it intensifies it. And the longer these operations are allowed to be repeated without accountability, the deeper the gap between the State and its citizens will grow. May this regrettable action serve, at the very least, as a warning to urgently rethink the role and actions of the police in a State that claims to be democratic. How long will we see markets surrounded as if they were war zones, because of individual interests? How long will innocent people pay with their peace and security for the systemic failures of a State that chose the path of repression instead of justice? It is time to say enough is enough. The Mozambican people deserve more, they deserve respect, peace and a State that defends them, not attacks them.

2025/12/3