In Zavala, Inhambane, Frelimo supporters were mobilized by community leaders from their districts to attend the party president’s rally on 30 September. More than a hundred supporters from Panda and Inharrime (both in Inhambane) and Mandlakazi (in Gaza) were transported in trucks to ensure that Filipe Nyusi’s rally was full.
As soon as the rally ended, Frelimo supporters from Panda and Mandlakazi were taken home. But there was no transportation for Inharrime’s supporters, and no information. The weather was cold and the supporters bedded down on local shop verandas in the hope of finding transport the next day. Finally at 21.00 a local Frelimo businessman provided a truck to take in the supporters home to Inharrime.
People continue to be transported from faraway places in unsafe conditions to fill Filipe Nyusi’s rallies, despite Nyusi assuring his audience in Chimoio that this was not done. An overloaded lorry carrying people home from a Nyusi rally in Songo Tete overturned, killing 7 people on 22 September.
Nyusi paralyzes classes in Gaza
Filipe Nyusi today reached Gaza province and at least 18 schools were closed and students and teachers were mobilized to watch Frelimo’s presidential candidate.
In the city of Xai-xai, along with teachers and school directors, the Nyusi rally was attended by students below voting age and who did not know the purpose of the event in District 11, our correspondents report. “Our teachers made us come to the rally,” said one 5th grader. Closed schools included Xai-Xai Secondary School (ES), Inhamissa ES, Joaquim Chissano ES, May 25 EPC, Eduardo Mondlane EPC, Tavene primary school (EP), Amilcar Cabral EP and Unit 11 EP.
Nyusi’s campaign in Xai-xai transported students and supporters from Chókwè, Macia, Limpopo and Chongoene (all districts of Gaza). All were carried unsafe conditions.
After Xai-xai, Filipe Nyusi went to Mandlakazi, where students, teachers and school boarmembers attended the rally and at least two schools were closed.
“Our teachers told us to come to the rally. But we should only come who are over 18,” said a pupil at Josina Machel ES. Mandkakazi ES was also closed.
Filipe Nyusi went to Chibuto after the rally in Mandlakazi. Communal Center EP2 (where the rally was held), Chibuto ES, Chimundo ES, Komochambane EP, Canhavano EP and Wahamuza EP were all closed for the rally, our correspondents report.
Renamo couple still missing in Manica
The Renamo supporting couple kidnapped in the early hours of 19 September in Tambara, Manica, have not been found. On the afternoon before their disappearance, Francisco Joanqueira, 45 and Marosa João, 40, refused to receive the district administrator when he was campaigning door-to-door for Frelimo. (See Bulletin 55).
