General Elections 59 – 24 September 2019
Insurgents carried out two attacks yesterday (September 23) in Mocimboa da Praia and Muidumbe districts in Cabo Delgado. Muidumbe’s attack took place at the Mbau Administrative Post, 83 km from the district town of Mocimboa da Praia, starting at 6 pm and continuing until 1 am. Ten people died in the attack. Half of the village houses plus Frelimo’s local headquarters were set on fire. In the town, forces from the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR) tried to repel the attack, leading to an exchange of fire that lasted for several hours.
This morning, local people went looking for transport to leave Mbau for safer parts of Cabo Delgado, our correspondents report.
Mbau Administrative Post Head Adriano Ahmed had also taken refuge in the woods because of the attack. He said that when the guerrillas entered the town, the insurgents found many young men drinking alcohol. “Many died on he spot,” said Ahmed.
The insurgents also broke into market stalls and “seized goods. Then they set fire to the stalls and left the town with a vehicle full of goods,” he added Mbau town has 5588 voters registered in 10 polling stations.
This was the second attack yesterday. The first occurred in the village of Limala, Mengueleua, Muidumbe district. Insurgents surprised two men betwn the ages of 28 and 30 when they were in their fields; they were beheaded around 10 am yesterday.
These are the seventh and eighth insurgent attacks on Cabo Delgado since the start of the election campaign.
Historic note: Wednesday 25 September is Armed Forces Day and commemorates the first shot of the independence struggle on 25 September 1964, in Chai, Cabo Delgado. Chai is in Macomia district, one of the hot spots of the new insurgency. General Alberto Chipande who fired the first shot, remains a very powerful figure in Cabo Delgado.
Renamo man beaten by Frelimo in Dondo
Renamo sympathizer Elias Arcanjo Chico, 36, was brutally beaten at home by 15 alleged Frelimo members in the Dondo district of Sofala. The attack occurred Saturday (21 September) in the centre of Dondo. The attackers, dressed in Frelimo T-shirts, entered the victim’s home at 7 pm and beat him and injured his rib, our correspondents report.
Chico had just left Renamo headquarters. “As soon as I got home, 15 men assaulted me,” said Chico. “Afterwards, I couldn’t walk.”
The attacker was rescued 30 minutes later by police and party supporters, and was taken to Dondo Health Unit where he received first aid. He is currently at home, but still cannot walk properly.
The victim also told the Bulletin that, throughout the day, parades of Frelimo and Renamo parties crossed several times and threats were exchanged.
Renamo political delegate Albano Luís confirmed the case and said it had already been referred to police authorities, who are investigating.
This is the third politically motivated assault in Dondo district since the start of the election campaign. The first two at the administrative posts in Mafambisse and Mutua ended with the death of a Renamo and a Frelimo supporter.
