Renamo attempts to occupy administrative post in central Mozambique – police

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Renamo attempts to occupy administrative post in central Mozambique – police

3:58 CAT | 27 Apr 2016

Lusa (File photo) / Mozambican soldiers seen here in a file photo

Renamo (Mozambican National Resistance, the main opposition party in Mozambique), tried to occupy the administrative post of Chemba in Sofala province on Monday morning, a police spokesman reported yesterday.

“Armed Renamo men tried to occupy the administrative post of Chemba, but were driven back by police, and actions are underway to neutralize these individuals,” Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM) spokesman Inacio Dina said during the weekly police press conference.

According to local residents, five armed men struck Chiramba, in the administrative post of Chemba, on Monday morning, and held the chief of the area hostage.

“Heavy shooting began in front of the administrative office at 7:45 a.m., about 15 minutes after the chief had arrived,” a resident who witnessed the incident told Lusa. He added that the group later “captured teachers, nurses and members of the public, to demonstrate who was in charge of the area.”

In addition to storming the headquarters of the Mozambique Liberation Front (Frelimo), the ruling party in Mozambique for 40 years, and taking down the party flag, the group took control of the local police station after expelling the only officer on duty, the resident said.

The PRM spokesman said yesterday however that the situation was now in hand, and that “life goes on in the district” and that police are on the ground to ensure community safety.

Despite the exchange of fire between police and the armed Renamo, no fatalities or injuries were reported. “The situation is under control,” Dina said.

Mozambique is experiencing a political and military crisis characterized by clashes between the defence and security forces and the armed wing of Renamo and attacks attributed by the authorities to the opposition party on sections of the main roads in the central region of the country.

The crisis was triggered by Renamo’s refusal to recognize the 2014 general election results and its demand to govern in the six provinces where it claims victory at the polls.

Source: Lusa