TUESDAY, 5.30PM
FORMER Mozambican rebel leader Alfonso Dhlakama flew to his wartime headquarters in Maringue on Tuesday after riot police there detained three members of his Mozambique National Resistance (Renamo) during “disturbances”.
“I am going to put an end to acts of intimidation on our people by riot police,” Dhlakama said before leaving. “Maringue is not Maputo, Beira or Chimoio. Maringue is Renamo’s headquarters.”
Renamo’s official heaquarters are in Maputo, in line with the law which states that all political parties must have their head office in the capital, but Dhlakama was based in Maringue during the civil war which ended in 1992.
Since the end of the war and elections in which Renamo became the main opposition party, the government has faced difficulties in exercising its authority in Maringue, with its officials being driven out several times. The detention of the three Renamo members was confirmed on Tuesday by the Sofala provincial police chief, Joao Mutaca. He told Radio Mozambique that two of the men held political positions, while the third was among a group of about 50 armed Renamo members awaiting integration into the police force. These men, who were not demobilised after the signing of the peace agreement, were to be trained as policemen and then form part of a protection force for Dhlakama.
The armed Renamo soldiers are reported to have been demanding action on their integration, and intimidating members of the small police unit stationed there.