A plan by the prosecutor’s office in Mozambique’s western province of Manica to charge a journalist with slander and defamation over a video of children play-acting a typical traffic stop has been criticised by the journalism union, SNJ.
Raquel Paulo Jorge shared online the short video of the three minors; one sitting in a stationary car, the others acting like no-nonsense traffic policemen.
In it the policemen accuse the driver of made up offences, including the “vehicle smelling like soap”, and then demand a $730 (£612) bribe. The driver then pleads his case saying he can’t afford to pay.
“Is there no other way of sorting this out?,” the driver asks.
After a brief pause, one of the officers points to two packets of yoghurt inside the car.
“Is this the way you work, bosses?” the exasperated driver asks.
SNJ said the video which features Ms Jorge’s grandson was “educational” and ” aimed at discouraging acts of corruption.”
Many people have also criticised the authorities in Manica and have urged them not to proceed with the plan to charge the journalist.
