Mozambique Elections: CNE can’t produce its evidence - AIM
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Mozambican authorities have decided to extend the military escort along National Road 7 (EN7) from Guro district in the central province of Manica to the Changara district in neighbouring Tete, a distance of about 260 kilometres.
The initial EN7 military escort covered about 180 kilometers between Vanduzi district in Manica and Guro.
State news agency AIM reports that the measure aims to protect people and property from attacks by armed men of Renamo, the country’s main opposition party.
Connecting with the EN6 through to the port of Beira in Sofala province, the EN7 serves as a corridor for the import and export of goods from landlocked countries such as Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia.
Truck drivers and members of the general public welcomed the military escort plan as giving greater security to highway users.
“But we ask the Renamo leader to order his men to stop the attacks, because they are undermining the sacrifice of those who fought for the liberation of this country. The economy is slowing down, leaving people in poverty because their vehicles and goods are burned,” said Joao Sande, a driver waiting for an escorted column to set off from the village headquarters of Changara district.
Another traveller, Maria Bernardino, said: “An escorted trip is not good for development because people sit for hours doing nothing. The time should be used for the economic growth of the country.”
Rosaria Manuel, also waiting to get on the move, added: “In my opinion, Afonso Dhlakama should not wait for the president’s call for dialogue. On the contrary, he should realise that he is doing himself harm, because he too is Mozambican. A Mozambican cannot enjoy see his country being destroyed.”
“Look at this long line of stationary cars waiting for orders to advance. This is a waste of time. The English say that time is money, but the leader of Renamo does not realize it, because he is running on automatic,” said Aparicio Razão, who went on to say said that the constraints on road transport were making products more expensive in many regions of the country, especially in Tete city.
Prices of essential commodities In Tete city have risen sharply. For example, a box of egg which previously cost 170 meticais now costs 200 meticais. (One dollar equals about 62 meticais at the current exchange rate.)
Several Malawian truckers, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the attacks of armed Renamo men were affecting the economy of their country too. The Malawians use the EN7 and EN6 to reach the port of Beira, and some of their trucks were recently attacked on the Vanduzi to Guro section of the road.
The military-political situation in Tete has been keenly felt in the districts of Tsangano and Moatize, in the areas of Chiaene and Nkondedzi specifically, where armed attacks have forced inhabitants to flee to accommodation centres in Malawi.
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