Cape Town – Mozambican police have reportedly issued a decree prohibiting civilians, including artists, from wearing police uniforms.
The decree prohibits the use of police uniforms in performing arts such as theatres and movies.
According to BBC, police boss Bernardino Rafael said artists were using the uniform in ways that did not portray a good image of the police.
This was, however, met with hostility by many artists, with theatre actor Aranica Pagere, better known as Comandante Faísca, saying the decree “doesn’t make sense” and performers “will not sit back”.
Pagere has been wearing police uniform in his recent shows.
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In South Africa, this decree would make sense, given that a lot of criminality in the past and recent years have been committed by criminals who wore police uniform as a disguise.
In 2013 a South African musician landed in hot water when he wore a police uniform to a music awards ceremony without permission.
Mail and Guardian, reported at the time that prosecutor Desiree Bojang argued it had become a trend for criminals to pose as police officers, usually to commit serious offences.
He pleaded guilty to contravening the South African Police Service (SAPS) Act by wearing the uniform to the award show without the permission of the provincial or national commissioner.
The musician was fined R3 000 or imprisonment.
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
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