Attacks in Mozambique lead to police personnel changes in Morrumbala and Mopeia

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Attacks in Mozambique lead to police personnel changes in Morrumbala and Mopeia

9:26 CAT | 18 Aug 2016

DW (File photo)

A police spokesman has denied that police district commanders in Morrumbala and Mopeia have been dismissed following successive attacks allegedly perpetrated by Renamo.

In the past month, there have been at least five attacks that resulting in fatalities and serious injuries in the Morrumbala and Mopeia districts of Zambezia province, central Mozambique. The last two attacks, carried out last week by alleged Renamo gunmen, have resulted in the removal of two district police commanders, according to anonymous sources consulted by DW Africa.

The reason is the slow reaction of the security forces to two attacks reported by local authorities on Friday August 12.

Alleged Renamo gunmen first attacked Morrumbala village headquarters, then did the same thing in Mopeia in the same province. Local authorities in Morrumbala say the attackers stormed the district police headquarters, releasing prisoners, and the health centre, which they set on fire. During the action, the group set fire to a police car and stole four motorbikes and hospital supplies.

Police deny resignations

Zambezia Provincial Command spokesman Jacinto Felix however says that the two police commanders were not dismissed, but transferred to other duties within Zambezia. According to Felix, this “is normal police action” as “any public official can be moved to another post or place of work”.

“We must avoid rumours and speculation,” he said.

However, a source in the Mopeia police force DW Africa has been in contact with says that the two district commanders were dismissed after the police took several hours to intervene during the raids on the two villages.

But Felix insists that “the movement of the two commanders – and all the staff of Zambezia Command” is aimed at “ensuring the safety of citizens in the context of military hostilities”, not only in Mopeia and Morrumbala, but throughout the Zambezia Province. “Many police were moved,” he emphasized.

Attacks continue

The Mozambican authorities have accused Renamo of a series of attacks in central and northern Mozambique in recent weeks, both against police and civilian facilities such as health centres, and on economic targets like mining company trains.

The leader of Renamo, Afonso Dhlakama, has admitted responsibility for several attacks, justifying the strategy of dispersing the Defence and Security Forces accused of shelling the mountains of Gorongosa, where he supposedly remains in refuge.

Column under military escort on National Highway 7

Attacks on vehicles on the roads also continue. At least two vehicles were attacked on National Highway 1 at the weekend, and the day before, two Radio Mozambique and Television Mozambique cars were ambushed as they travelled in an escorted column on a section of the N7 in Manica province. Renamo denies responsibility for the attack.

On the same day, six people were shot dead and their bodies burned in Cheringoma district, Sofala province, an incident also the subject of contradictory reports, with the police accusing Renamo and two survivors cited by ‘O Pais’ blaming defence and security forces.

Despite the frequency of political violence, the two parties have resumed dialogue in Maputo with international mediators present. The first phase of the negotiations has been dominated by Renamo’s demand to govern in the six provinces where it claims electoral victory and the conditions for the ceasefire demanded by the government.

Source: Deutsche Welle