45 DAYS CAMPAIGN ENDED TODAY

At least 15 people were injured on Sunday as gangs of supporters of the former rebel movement Renamo roamed through the streets of the northern city of Nampula attacking people believed to be sympathizers of the ruling Frelimo Party, usually identified because they were wearing Frelimo T-shirts.The 15 injured people were hurt seriously enough to be treated at Nampula Central Hospital. One is in a serious condition and needs surgery. In addition, dozens of cars and homes were vandalized in the Renamo violence. The home of the mayor of Nampula, Mahamudo Amurrane, only escaped thanks to intervention by the riot police. Amurrane is a member, not of Frelimo, but o the second opposition party, the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM). Renamo justified this attack with the extraordinary claim that the MDM “does not exist” in Nampula, and that the MDM in the city is just a group of people who take instructions from people. Given the public clashes between Frelimo and the MDM in Nampula last month, the claim is patently absurd.Reports are also reaching Nampula of clashes in the port of Nacala, with citizens injured and vehicles damaged. The police have made some arrests, but declined to make any statement to AIM, on the grounds that they are still collecting data on the incidents. The police promised to speak to the press on Monday.As of late afternoon there were still Renamo members driving round the city in cars and on motor-cycles, insulting anybody they spotted wearing Frelimo T-shirts.

The opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) on Sunday again displayed a mock coffin of Filipe Nyusi, presidential candidate of the ruling Frelimo Party, this time during the close of its election campaign in the central city of Beira.The mock coffin was displayed on a truck carrying MDM members from the centre of the city to the outlying neighbourhood of Chingassura. The MDM first used such a mock coffin in a demonstration on 25 September in the northern city of Nampula. Then the MDM members disrupted a solemn ceremony held to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the launch of Frelimo’s armed struggle for Mozambican independence. This led to clashes between the MDM and Frelimo, and police intervention. This time there was nothing that could be construed as disrespect for the war dead, and the mock coffin led to no violence. It was just part of the preparations for the close of the campaign of the MDM leader and presidential candidate, Daviz Simango, who is also mayor of Beira.
Simango’s closing rally, however, was delayed by several hours, and by 16.00 he had still not arrived at Chingassura.

Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo Party has warned that “a certain political force” is claiming that, if it loses Wednesday’s general elections, it will go back to war.Speaking in Lichinga, capital of the northern province of Niassa, the Frelimo first provincial secretary, Cornelio Laice, called for vigilance, urging citizens to denounce to the police anyone who threatens violence. Although he mentioned no names, he was clearly referring to the former rebel movement Renamo.“Mozambique is at peace, and peace has come to stay”, he declared, at a rally marking the end of the Frelimo election campaign in Lichinga. The Frelimo Political Commission member stationed in Niassa, Tourism Minister Carvalho Muaria, who chaired the rally, advised people to vote on Wednesday in an orderly fashion, and then wait at home calmly for the announcement of the results. “There are people who like to provoke others”, he said. “So go home and wait for the results to be announced by the electoral bodies. After the results, we will have festivities to celebrate our convincing victory”.

Afonso Dhlakama, the leader and presidential candidate of Mozambique’s former rebel movement Renamo, declared on Saturday that, if he is elected, he will make every effort to free young Mozambicans from dependence on alcohol, and provide them with jobs.Speaking at the Xipamanine market, the largest municipal market in Maputo, Dhlakama described young people as the engine for the country’s development. It was thus crucial to embark on a programme of youth employment.“Youngsters, you should be free of beer and other drink”, Dhlakama told his audience. “My government promises to give you jobs. You are in this world of drink because you are unemployed”.He said that, if he becomes President and does not carry out the promises in the Renamo election manifesto during his five year term of office, then Mozambicans should throw him out. “If you vote for me, and I become President, but in five years I don’t do anything, then throw me onto the trash heap”, he declared.Dhlakama was spending just one day in Maputo, driving round the city’s main avenues and visiting concentrations of people in formal and informal markets. A large crowd, many of whom could never have seen him in person before, followed his motorcade. At the sprawling informal market of Xikhelene, Dhlakama attacked the stress laid by Filipe Nyusi, the candidate of the ruling Frelimo Party, on “continuity”. That “continuity”, he argued, meant the perpetuation of misgovernment. Dhlakama has now flown to the north of the country, where he intends to end his campaign in Nampula province, the most populous of the 11 provincial constituencies.