Africa-Press – Mozambique. Zacarias Nacute, the spokesperson for the police command in the northern Mozambican province of Nampula, has claimed that the main opposition party, Renamo, is using home-made bombs in its protests against the municipal election results.
Speaking at a Monday press conference in Nampula city, Nacute said that during Friday’s demonstrations one of these bombs hit an agent of the Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR – the Mozambican equivalent of the riot police). Doctors had to amputate his forearm in Nampula Central Hospital.
He said that, based on police intelligence sources, it was possible to seize home-made explosive material, which was being stored in the Renamo Nampula offices. Nacute believed that this material was to have been used against the police.
The police have accused the Renamo political delegate in Nampula, Abiba Aba, and the Renamo mayors of Nampula and Nacala, Paulo Vahanle and Raul Novinte (who were both standing for a further term of office), of masterminding Friday’s demonstrations.
Nacute said the police have started criminal proceedings against these Renamo leaders, and have sent the evidence against them to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
According to a report in Monday’s issue of the independent daily “O Pais”, the police detained 101 people during the Friday rioting in Nampula and Nacala, and nine police officers were injured.
According to the preliminary results of the municipal elections, announced by the National Elections Commission (CNE) last Thursday, the ruling Frelimo Party won a majority in the Nampula Municipal Assembly.
But a parallel vote count by reputable observer groups shows that, in reality, Renamo won. Renamo has appealed to the Constitutional Council, the country’s highest body in matters of constitutional and electoral law.
Immediately after the results were announced, Abiba Aba told reporters that Renamo will fight for “the restoration of the truth”, and will not surrender its current control over Nampula municipality.
Aba warned that, even if the Constitutional Council validates the results announced by the CNE, Renamo will not give up power in Nampula, “because we won”.
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