General Elections 70 – 09 October 2019
Five people were injured and a protocol vehicle of the Gondola administrator, Moguen Candieiro, was reduced to ashes as a result of an attack by gunmen in Amatongas, Gondola district, Manica. The attack occurred yesterday afternoon (8 October) in the Pinangonga region where the district administrator was campaigning for Frelimo.
While the rally was taking place, the attackers moved into a community leader’s residence and severely beat him. Informed of the incident, the administrator sent the car with to help him. The attackers then open fired on the Toyota Hilux D4D, injuring four police officers. When they abandoned the car, it was set on fire.
Manica Police Chief of Public Relations, Mário Arnaça, confirmed the attack and said: “In light of General Nhongo’s latest pronouncements, it appears that the authors may belong to the selfproclaimed leader of the Renamo Military Junta.”
At an Armed Forces Day rally (25 September), Candeiro stated that Frelimo will continue to govern at all costs (See Bulletin 60). “We will not surrender power”, he said, and ridiculed opposition parties, our correspondents reported. Gondola district has been the target of two other attacks by gunmen since the start of the election campaign, in Zimpinga and Amatongas.
