A woman claimed on Sunday she was beaten by ten men armed with sticks because she did not stand to attention when their political party’s flag was raised.
Racina Armando said she was walking in the street in the town of Inhaminga, in the central province of Sofala, when she was set upon by the uniformed men who she said belonged to the former rebel movement Renamo.
The deputy secretary of the province’s branch of the Mozambique Women’s Organisation, said the men assaulted her because she did not respect their party’s flag.
They allegedly told her she had shown her disrespect by walking by instead of halting and standing to attention as the flag was hoisted, Armando said.
She spoke to the media on a visit to Maputo for medical treatment of her injuries sustained in the attack on Thursday.
Her teeth and head were injured and she had difficulties in hearing since the attack, she said.
Armando said she was on her way to a class at a teacher training college when she was attacked by the men as scores of people watched.
Police confirmed the incident but would not comment further.
Renamo officials said they were not aware of the incident.
Citizens in the southeastern African country usually stand to attention when the national flag is raised or lowered, but are not required to do so for other flags.
”I see no reason why anyone should expect me to stand to attention for the Renamo flag,” said Armando, a supporter of the ruling Frelimo Party.
FRELIMO fought a bitter 16-year civil war against Renamo, the former rebel movement that now serves as the country’s main opposition.
Fighting broke out soon after Mozambique won independence from Portugal in 1975. They signed a peace deal in 1992 and Renamo became a political party. – Sapa-AP