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Mozambican Civil Society Within: Evaluation, Challenges, Opportunities and Action
3.3.4.1 Non-Violence within Civil Society
How widespread is the use of violence, including damage to property and personal violence,
within civil society?
Most CSOs that replied to the survey stated that the use of violence by certain groups is extremely
rare (49%), while 27% of respondents felt that violence is used in isolated cases, and 18% felt
that some isolated groups regularly use violence.
Figure 3.3.8: Examples of Violence within Civil Society in Mozambique 2007
Violent SC examples
50
49.1%
40
Percent
30
20
18.3%
27.1%
10
5.5%
0
Significant & mass
based
Isolated groups
regular use
Isolated group
occasional use
extremely rare
use of violence
3.3.4.2 CS Actions to Promote Non-Violence and Peace
There is every indication that violence as a way of resolving problems is no longer common in
Mozambique. This is a good sign in a country where up to a decade and a half ago it lived
through the tragic experience of 16 years of resorting to or support for armed violence by parties
or civil society citizens (supported by military forces from neighbouring countries) as a way of
imposing a different ideology or policies to those that, no less arrogantly and stubbornly, were
imposed on Mozambican society.
The CSOs surveyed are divided over concrete examples of recent civil society campaigns,
actions or programs dedicated to promoting non-violence and/or peaceful solutions. A third of
respondents said they could recall one or two examples, 29% could not recall any and 27%
stated that they could recall various examples.
As regards the current role of civil society in promoting non-violence and/or the search for
solutions to conflicts within society, about 46% of the CSOs surveyed said that it is important,
20% moderate, 19% limited and 15% insignificant.
Based on this information it can be concluded that a number of civil society activities can be
identified in this area. However, it seems that these activities are not sufficiently visible or do not
have a sufficiently broad support base.
76
Civil Society Index, Mozambique 2007