Africa-Press – Mozambique. Six people were injured and two arrested following a protest against the demolition of houses in Milhulametine, Marracuene district, Maputo province.
Information collected on-site indicates that nine houses, allegedly built illegally, were destroyed yesterday morning by police officers, and agents of a private security company hired by the businesswoman who claims to be the owner of the disputed land.
This infuriated the locals. “They [the private security agents and police officers] told us to leave, and we refused. Then the shooting and the assaults began,” one of the protesters related.
He indicated that one of those injured was treated at the local health unit for a head wound.
M. Teresa, one of the owners of the destroyed houses, said that a couple was arrested for refusing to leave the place where the houses were recently built, with precarious materials such as wooden sticks, reeds and zinc sheets.
“The court has ruled in our favour several times. We are not going to abandon land that belonged to our grandparents,” M. Teresa asserted.
The Marracuene administrator has already reacted to the situation, warning that the parcelling of the land in this location is illegal, and that any attempt to sell it must be reported so that the offenders may be held accountable.
