Dhlakama accuses “squads linked to the centres of power” of having assassinated Amurane

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Dhlakama accuses “squads linked to the centres of power” of having assassinated Amurane

4:50 CAT | 10 Oct 2017

DW / Afonso Dhlakama

The Renamo leader says that “Daviz Simango does not have the capacity to create death squads [to kill Amurane]”. Dhlakama suspects that squads would have taken advantage of the split between Amurane and the MDM to kill Amurane.

In Mozambique, Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama has said he believes that Daviz Simango does not have the capacity to set up a death squad and kill Amurane.

Dhlakama believes the killers are linked to the police and ‘political power’ and suspects that the squads took advantage of the crisis between Mahamudo Amurane and the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) to assassinate the mayor Nampula, who was killed last Wednesday, shot three times with a pistol.

DW Africa interviewed the leader of Mozambique’s largest opposition party on the murder of Amurane.

Also Read: Amurane’s death runs counter to all efforts and appeals to peace – Mozambique’s President

DW Africa: What can you tell us about the murder of Mahamudo Amurane?

Afonso Dhlakama (AD): First, it was sad. The young man was working well as chairman of the city council of Nampula in a province that is a Renamo bastion. It was a surprise and I sent condolences to the relatives, but up to now we don’t know exactly what happened.

On our side, when we were asked, we said that we knew of the disagreement between the mayor and MDM leader Daviz Simango, but personally I even said that Simango did not have the capacity to create death squads and do what happened. We have already become accustomed in this country to seeing death squads assassinate people like António Siba-Siba Macuácua, Carlos Cardoso, Gilles Cistac, Jeremiah Pondeca and many others, even members of Frelimo and Renamo, but to this day, the state has been unable to identify the culprits.

DW Africa: Judging by the type of murder, do you suspect of anyone or any particular party?

AD: I’m not saying that I suspect anyone. I blame those who have always done this, that is, people connected to the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM). In a country with functioning institutions, groups of thugs appear to be able to shoot, kill and then disappear without government comment – it’s strange.

By this I mean that I think Amurane, when he took office in 2013, will have made a commitment to the great Frelimo leaders that he has not been able to fulfil in recent years, including the split with Daviz Simango. And the squads linked to power will have taken advantage of this situation to take his life. What is more than certain is that if it were just a bandit, someone would be identified immediately and captured. But that has not happened so far because it is the institutions linked to the party in power themselves that give coverage.

Also Read: Detentions over Amurane’s murder: Police neither confirm nor deny – Mozambique

DW Africa: Renamo has strong support in Nampula, but so too does the MDM. And this, the third largest municipality in Mozambique, is also of interest to Frelimo. Are you expecting a hung result in the 2019 election?

AD: Absolutely not. I can assure you that even the deceased had an easy ride in 2013 [municipal elections] because Renamo did not compete. Everyone knows that this is a Renamo bastion. In the city of Nampula, there is no need to argue: Renamo will wins even they steal votes.

I know that the MDM has a small niche in the electorate, just like Frelimo does, but it’s usually our territory. In fact, everyone knows that Zambézia, Sofala, Manica and Tete provinces have a lot of Renamo support. If all goes well in 2019 we will take Nampula with an elected governor from the Renamo ranks. Even if there are midterm elections in Nampula we will win, and in the local elections we will clean up. Of this we have no doubts.

DW Africa: In the meantime, Amurane had great support in Nampula. He said he would run as an independent in 2018 and even participate in the provincial elections with considerable hope of success. That would not please Frelimo, or Renamo or the MDM.

AD: He had no popularity, and even his family members were sympathetic to Renamo in the Monapo district. I lived in Nampula for a few years. It is by nature a province with a lot of Renamo influence. Amurane had no popularity. It is true that Amurane, who was not corrupt, was taken up by the MDM and ran in the city, but to win some votes and nothing else. But there was considerable abstention, and he won the presidency with very few votes. That does not mean having popularity. He won because Renamo did not run and people did not want power to be handed to Frelimo.

Also Read: Man who defied his destiny assassinated on the Day of Peace – @Verdade

DW Africa: In principle, by law, interim elections should occur with the death of Amurane. If so, would Renamo participate?

AD: It would participate, and win these elections.

DW Africa: The death of Amurane makes people look at both the MDM and Frelimo with some suspicion. In this context, how do you see the 2018 municipal elections?

AD: We are already accustomed, Renamo above all, to having members murdered in cold blood. We are concerned, and not just for the elections next year, but for the lives that disappear, the parents of children who die, just like that [de qualquer maneira].

Source: Deutsche Welle