A South African ambassador has taken the UN to task over attacks on tourists in Mozambique, reports Chris Louw
SOUTH AFRICA’S ambassador in Maputo, John Sunde, this week criticised the United Nations for failing to improve the security situation in Mozambique in the wake of the dramatic increase in attacks on South African tourists.
Sunde told the Mail & Guardian that the Mozambican police had lost control and that action by the UN peacekeeping force to counter the growing lawlessness was lacking.
“Because of the peace process in the run-up to the country’s first democratic elections in October, the police do not have the vehicles and the means to impose law and order,” he said.
The South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned tourists in Mozambique to drive in convoy and to stay off the roads after lunchtime, when most attacks occur.
Sunde said soldiers at defence headquarters in Maputo were openly robbing tourists, and more than 30 AK47 rifles had been stolen from defence demobilisation points. The embassy had also received numerous complaints of policemen and traffic officers bribing tourists.
A Mozambican diplomat in Pretoria said action would be taken. But he did not believe the security situation was out of control.
A Pretoria couple, Charlie and Celeste Viljoen, were attacked by robbers armed with AK47s last weekend while they were travelling from Komatipoort to Maputo.
They threw some money into the bushes and drove on. But a group of seven armed men shot at the vehicle, riddling it with bullets.
Celeste’s right arm was shattered by a bullet and she was given emergency treatment by policemen at a roadblock 5km further down the road.
She was transported to the Cruz Azul Hospital in Maputo, but the operation was cancelled when the theatre nurse failed to arrive. The couple were then flown back to Pretoria.
Other victims include award-winning Afrikaans author John Miles and Tienie du Plessis, of Hond Publishers. They were forced at gunpoint to hand over money to soldiers, in front of the presidential residence in Maputo.
Du Plessis said he and Miles were travelling in separate vehicles when they were stopped by AK47-wielding soldiers.
“They asked for our passports and told us that our documents were in order. However, they refused to hand them back until we had given them money. They insisted on R200 from each vehicle, and became extremely aggressive when we refused to pay.”
Du Plessis and Miles’ passenger handed over about 97 000 meticais (about R110). They were allowed to go.