Macomia: Neighbourhood secretaries stop issuing ‘Guias de Marcha’ – MediaFax

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Macomia: Neighbourhood secretaries stop issuing ‘Guias de Marcha’ – MediaFax

4:39 CAT | 12 Aug 2020

File photo: Voa Portugues

With the signing of the General Peace Agreement in 1992 and the entry into force of the new Constitution of the Republic of 1990, Mozambicans no longer needed to have a so-called ‘Guia de Marcha’ to move from one place to another within the national territory.

However, with terrorism growing in various parts of the northern province of Cabo Delgado, the authorities in some districts have started to issue and charge for ‘Guias de Marcha’ for those entering and leaving. The measures are justified by the need to prevent terrorists blending in with the general population.

People accept the measure, although it is illegal, as necessary to guarantee some kind of control and security – not least because most of the population is undocumented as a result of the recurring attacks – and carry the ‘Guias de Marcha’ to present at the points of arrival – in this case, places of reception and refuge.

However, for reasons yet to be clarified, district authorities in Macomia decided, a few days ago, to stop issuing the ‘Guias de Marcha’, preventing residents from fleeing the war at a time when the number of those arriving at and departing from Macomia is increasing.

The arrivals are looking for an escape from the recurring attacks in their villages, and are joined by others who see the town of Macomia as no longer offering security, particularly after the attack and occupation last May.

According to sources in Macomia, a few days after the 28th and 30th of July terrorist attacks on Litandacua village, in the administrative post of Chai, Macomia district, the number of people leaving those areas increased, many of them requesting ‘Guias de Marcha’ in Macomia.

They were simply informed that the ‘Guias de Marcha’ were no longer issued, leaving them in undisguised despair. They want to leave the town of Macomia, to escape the increasingly dangerous scenario, but cannot, thwarted by the absence of ‘Guias de Marcha’.

Moreover, they know that the ‘Guia de Marcha’ will be required from them in the place where they are thinking of taking refuge. Control of exit and arrival is a reality in Cabo Delgado, all in an attempt to reduce the chances of terrorists infiltrating the population.

The issuance of the ‘Guias de Marcha’ has already created long lines at the neighbourhood secretariats, with secretaries charging 100 meticais for each guide. In Macomia, there were three places where the ‘Guias de Marcha’ were issued.

“Without these documents, people run the risk of not reaching their destination due to police action at the main checkpoints, such as posts that are mandatory when going to the city of Pemba and Nampula province,” one town resident explained.

Source: MediaFax