Renamo presidential candidate Ossufo Momade was unable to conduct an election campaign in four districts of Manica because his plane was not allowed to land at local airstrips. Renamo delegate and Manica head of list Alfredo Magumisse accuses the public company, Airports of Mozambique, of sabotaging the Ossufo Momade campaign on Frelimo’s orders, by closing airstrips to prevent the candidate from arriving in those districts.
“The regime has shut down Machaze, Mossurize, Barué, Manica and Sussundenga airfields, leaving only Chimoio and Mucombedzi open,” Magumisse told reporters today (October 7) in Chimoio.
The Renamo presidential candidate had been campaigning by car but suddenly changed and decided to use a plane. Safety reasons are said to be behind the change. Manica is one of the provinces targeted for attacks by the Renamo Military Junta, which disputes the leadership of Ossufo Momade and demands the postponement of elections and renegotiation of the Government- Renamo Peace Agreement.
Ossufo Momade had been scheduled to visit the province of Manica on 4 and 5 October but only managed to visit the city of Chimoio on 5 October, and Renamo supporters in other districts were left disappointed. Momade travelled to central Manica after campaigning in several districts of southern Inhambane and Gaza provinces (See Bulletin 64). In Manica, Ossufo managed to campaign only in the city of Chimoio. Renamo supporters awaiting the arrival of their candidate in some districts were disappointed. (See Bulletin 67).
Momade held a rally in Chimoio on October 5, and then headed for Sofala province, where he is working now.
