Africa-Press – Mozambique. The authorities in Muidumbe district, in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado, are forcing state employees to their workplaces after they fled as a result of extreme violence carried out by islamist terrorists.
According to Monday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Carta de Moçambique”, the district government is threatening to launch disciplinary proceedings against those who have not yet returned to their jobs, even though there is no guarantee that the district is completely free of terrorists.
The appeal was expressed in a document issued by the District Administrator, José Casimiro, on 29 May, giving public employees a deadline of five days to return to their posts.
In this note, the Administrator threatened to take administrative measures against anyone who failed to respond to the call within the deadline.
“Failure to comply with this order implies that administrative measures will be taken, which could result in a discount of wages or the initiation of disciplinary proceedings, which could culminate in expulsion from the State Apparatus, in accordance with the rules that regulate Mozambican public administration”, reads the note.
Reacting to the measure, officials claim that the administrator is forcing a return to Muidumbe by ignoring the prevailing situation of insecurity, especially after the presence of terrorists in Mbau administrative post, in Mocímboa da Praia district, last week.
“We still don’t know exactly what the Administrator means, but in fact the situation is not good in the district, made worse by the recent presence of terrorists in Mbau, knowing that Mocímboa da Praia and Muidumbe are neighbours”, a source said.
Another source warned that the situation could worsen in the coming days, since “we don’t know if the terrorists will think of taking revenge after their defeat in Mbau, so we need to reinforce security in the villages.”
Another official argued that despite the return of part of the population, particularly from the villages of Miangalewa and Chitunda, public services have not yet resumed, although health brigades are providing some basic assistance.
There are reports that among the officials who have returned to Muidumbe, some are in their own homes and others in rented houses, while yet others have been offered hospitality by the local population.
Members of the district government have also returned to Muidumbe district, after spending many months in the town of Mueda.
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