Unidentified arsonists set fire to STAE director’s car

Maputo, 19 Oct AIM – Mozambique’s National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) launched an operation on Wednesday to identify the individuals who set fire to the car of Lourenço Fato, the director of the Electoral Administration Technical Secretariat (STAE), in Quelimane city, capital of the central province of Zambézia.

The Mozambican police (PRM) does not rule out the possibility that the crime is linked to the wave of popular demonstrations against the provisional results of the municipal elections held on October 11.

Those results gave victory to the ruling Frelimo Party, but have been denounced as fraudulent by the main opposition forces, Renamo and the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM).

PRM Zambezia spokesperson Sidner Lonzo told a press conference on Wednesday in Quelimane, “We confirm that, in the Aeroporto neighbourhood, at around 00:10, unknown individuals threw two bottles containing fuel and a cloth to set fire to a car parked at the residence of the director of STAE”.

“Our colleagues who were providing security at this residence first noticed a strange noise and immediately searched the perimeter of the residence, detecting no irregularities”, he added.

When the officers became aware of the fire, they launched a chase against the criminals while trying to put out the blaze.

The PRM have urged the public to avoid actions of this nature to contest the results of the elections.

“We renew our call for the population to continue cooperating with the police, behaving calmly and waiting for the election results to be announced by the competent authorities”, Lonzo said.

The PRM also reiterated its readiness to guarantee the safety of people and their property. “We want to appeal to the population not to accept violence or join the groups that intend to alter public order and security”, Lonzo added.

Questioned about Pedro Manguissa, the presiding officer of a Quelimane polling station in that town, who was found dead beside a road in the city, Lonzo said it was too early to comment on a possible connection with the wave of popular demonstrations.

(AIM)

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