Two new attacks yesterday on vehicles in Manica and Sofala, but no casualties – VOA

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Two new attacks yesterday on vehicles in Manica and Sofala, but no casualties – VOA

3:44 CAT | 29 Oct 2019

FILE: For illustration purposes only. [File photo: DW]

Drivers block the road demanding the government assure safety

Two new attacks on civilian vehicles, in Muda district in Manica province and in Tchiro in Sofala near the EN1, were reported on Monday, although no casualties occurred.

The two attacks occurred almost simultaneously, around 6:00 a.m. local time.

The first target was a 15-seater minibus in the Muda Serração area, 20 kilometres south of Inchope, and the second, in Tchiro, was a cargo truck.

The situation sparked a driver’s protest yesterday with buses and freight trucks amassing at Inchope – Mozambique’s main economic crossroads – with some drivers refusing to proceed because of the lack of security.

“We want a government solution, because we are dying on the roads for no reason,” truck driver Arlindo Adelino said, adding that he wouldn’t leave before a police escort was provided.

Another motorist drew attention to drivers’ ‘”widespread fear” of driving through the targeted sections, despite the authorities’ assurance of security and the presence of patrol cars.

“Danger is something that has always been there. We have military in the woods, but there are always attacks, and yesterday we lost a colleague,” he added during the driver’s protest against police lack of action.

The Director of Order and Public Safety of the Manica provincial police attributed the drivers’ protest to “rumours of attacks” on the EN1 and EN6 roads, considered the ‘backbone’ of Mozambique and hinterland African countries’ economies.

Inácio Dinas, who was negotiating with drivers yesterday morning, said that “the police are ensuring safety” in the sections of road concerned.

More attacks

Attacks on vehicles carried out by unidentified individuals have killed eight people and wounded dozens in Manica and Sofala provinces since August.

On Sunday 27th, a truck driver was shot and killed behind the wheel, and another person was also shot and killed while travelling in an open-sided vehicle. Both incidents occurred in the same area where a police patrol car was ambushed and set on fire last week.

On Sunday, a third victim died on the way to hospital, witnesses told VOA.

The incident was preceded by another attack on Wednesday in which a police officer died when his vehicle was shot at and caught fire during a patrol in the area between Nhamatanda and Gorongosa districts.

Mozambican police attribute the attacks to the self-proclaimed Renamo Military Junta, an armed dissident splinter group of Mozambique’s main opposition party. The group denies having authorised any of the attacks.

By André Baptista

Source: VOA Portugues