Renamo member acquitted in Alto Molocué

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Renamo member acquitted in Alto Molocué

9:20 CAT | 29 Oct 2018

The judge in the trial for assault on a Frelimo member in local elections of Alfane Mussagi Alfane, the deputy district director of STAE in Alto Molocué district, Zambézia province, has said that the Renamo member acted in self-defence.

The Renamo-appointed deputy director of the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) of Alto Molocué was acquitted on Friday after having been jailed during municipal elections on charges of ripping the shirt of a member of the Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo), the ruling party.

The defendant was charged with the partial destruction of a window at one of the polling stations and assault on a Frelimo STAE technician, who suffered an injury to his right hand in an incident which took place after the counting of the votes.

Mosambik - RENAMO Alfane Mussagi Alfane — *Alfane Mussagi Alfane had been detained on election day*

In an interview with DW, Alfane Mussagi Alfane said he was satisfied with the outcome of the trial. “I am very happy that the judge has acquitted me of these charges in the presence of the prosecutor and the other people who attended my trial,” he said.

“I told them everything, saying that I did nothing wrong. I was only trying to recover the computer which was being stolen with all the information processed from the voters who voted on the 10th. After all, the judge acquitted me saying that I acted in self-defence. I’m happy and I think the judge was impartial,” he added.

Despite his acquittal, Renamo district delegate in Alto Molocué, Fernando Mario Nampale, said on Saturday (27.10) that the party was still not satisfied. Nampale argued that more Renamo members were being held in the village and that others were hospitalised in Nampula province and in Quelimane after suffering serious injuries.

Open cases

Renamo is further demanding justice in the counting of votes. Last Wednesday, Mozambique’s National Elections Commission (CNE) officially announced the results that gave Frelimo and its head of list, Miguel Paulino Muananvuca, 47.77% of the vote against 47.08% of votes for the Renamo candidate, José Palaço.

Frelimo and Renamo will have to divide seats in the local assembly along these lines, each party have ten members. The Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM) will have only one representative.

Meanwhile, the two Frelimo-appointed presidents of voting tables, Leogivildo Alberto and Elidiu Celestino, who fled with two voting minutes from the Escola Primária Completa-Cede and Pista Velha voting stations have already returned to normal life.

According to Fernando Mário Nampale, Renamo has already informed the authorities and both have been notified. They could be tried on November 6.

Source: Deutsche Welle