Armed Renamo men reportedly attack vehicles in central Mozambique

The attack took place between the Save River and Muxungue region in Chibabava district of Sofala around 6 a.m., according to one of the survivors, quoted by Radio Mozambique.

One of the vehicles belongs to the Ministry of Health. Its driver whose name was not identified by the survivor sustained minor injuries.

The gunmen tried to burn his car, but they ran into the bush when they learnt that government troops were rushing to the scene. All the four vehicles were travelling from the capital, Maputo towards the north of the country.

“The gunmen started firing indiscriminately from the bush. They wounded the driver of the small truck, but not seriously. He is now in hospital in Muxugue town”, the survivor said.

The survivor told the radio that “there is no doubt that they were Renamo gunmen, because of the way they were attacking”.

Radio Mozambique spoke to the administrator of Muxungue, Domingos Fernando, who confirmed the attack on four vehicle.

But he said the fourth vehicle, which was heading to the northern city of Nampula was attacked at 7 O’ Clock in the morning.

According to Fernando, Renamo men have been in Muxungue for about a year, disguising as farmers.
“But afterwards they started attacking vehicles recently. We now realized that they are the ones who are attacking people as well”, he added.

This is the first time Renamo gunmen attack vehicles at the same place this year. The stretch was the scene of attacks by Renamo men in 2013. Several vehicles were ambushed, and this sparked more clashes between Renamo men and government troops, which resulted in the storming of the Renamo leader’s home at Maringue, also in Sofala in May the same year.

The Renamo leader, Afonso Dhlakama, managed to flee and went to Gorongosa mountain, where he was in hiding.
He left the area after he was persuaded by the Italians, so that he could take part in general and presidential elections. He stood as candidate for Renamo in the presidential race in 2014.

But when the results of the polls gave victory to the ruling Frelimo party and its presidential candidate, Filipe Nyusi, he became furious and returned to Gorongosa.

From then on, he has been threatening to hold nationwide mass protests to topple the government.

The Renamo leader is also requesting to govern the provinces where he and Renamo got more votes. Enditem

Source: Xinhua