Maputo – (News Of The South) – An opposition party in Mozambique, The Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) alleges that supporters of the current government attacked the convoy of their presidential candidate using machetes, stones and sticks while carrying out his campaign.
MDM described how ruling Frelimo party supporters attacked Daviz Simango’s motorcade in the south of the country ahead of the October 15 general election.
Sande Carmona, MDM spokesman said that Tuesday’s incident was just part of some of the several attacks being launched on the party this week and so far three people are reported to have been injured while four vehicles have been damaged.
“People in the motorcade were hit with stones, and beaten with sticks and machetes by Frelimo men,” said Carmona.
“It happens almost all the time,” Carmona claimed, describing the recent attacks as the “worst” and accusing police and prosecutors of not taking action because they were “under the control of Frelimo”.
According to observers in Mozambique, Simango who is the mayor of the second biggest city, Beira, presents a challenge to both ruling Frelimo’s candidate, Felipe Nyusi and the leader of the main opposition party, Renamo, Afonso Dhlakama.
“Having a third actor running is creating nervousness in both other parties,” Hortencio Lopes a researcher for the Maputo-based think tank, the Centre for Mozambican and International Studies, said.
“This nervousness is creating both verbal and physical violence,” he said, especially “on the part of Frelimo.”
Last week the National Electoral Commission issued a strong warning to political parties to “respect the constitution and rule of law… and abandon the resource to violence,” without naming specific parties.
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