There is no campaign violence but only opposition victimization, Frelimo national spokesman Caifadine Manasse told a campaign press conference yesterday. “The opposition wants to show that there are problems just to gain sympathy because it does not have a governance program, it has no messages to convey.” The Bulletin cited cases of aggression involving Frelimo supporters across the country during the election campaign, but Manasse distanced himself. “Any citizen who is involved in vandalism does not follow Frelimo’s agenda.”
Anastácio Matavel “was a member of the Frelimo Central Committee ten years ago and was a member of Frelimo to this day. The people who are dying are members of Frelimo,” Manasse said.
Military contingents and police special forces agents are being sent to provinces and districts from various quarters in the country, and local people fear that there may be a source of violence on Election Day. In Zambézia province, a contingents of military and police have arrived in Morrumbala and Mopeia. These are areas of Renamo influence.
A Renamo sympathizer was shot in the knee by police during a brawl between Renamo and Frelimo in Chidzoio, Ngandali, Macanga, Tete on Tuesday (8 Oct), which occurred when party caravans met.
Frelimo is intimidating villagers in Mucorodzi and Bica, Gondola district, Manica, our correspondents report. They argue that if Frelimo loses in the 15 October elections, many will lose their lives and will no longer receive donations for the victims of cyclone Idai that devastated the region. Renamo also claims that the regulo (traditional chief) of of Bica threatened that supporters of Renamo will be killed.
A Renamo traditional healer was detained in Namialo, Menconta, Nampula after he went to the home of a Frelimo sympathizer to try to remove a buried traditional curse that would block Renamo’s victory. Nothing was found but an argument with the householder followed and the healer was eventually arrested.
