Chimoio (Mozambique), 18 Feb (AIM) – A child died on Friday during a riot in Guro district, in the central Mozambican province of Manica caused by a rumor that a local businessman was preventing the rains from falling.
Threats were made against the businessman because of his supposedly magical powers over the rain. Believing his life to be in danger, he took refuge in the Guro District Police Command.
But a crowd followed him to the Command and demanded that the police hand him over.
Knowing that if they surrendered to the mob, the businessman would face certain death, the police allowed him to stay in the Command. The crowd threw stones and other objects against the command, and in the ensuing violence a child (aged between 12 and 14) was killed.
“The population wanted the businessman whom they accused of stopping it from raining”, said the spokesperson for the Manica Provincial police command, Mateus Mindu, at a Saturday press conference in the provincial capital, Chimoio. “He took refuge in the district command. The crowd began to rebel and the police were obliged to take measures to calm their fury”.
The businessman may have been safe, but his property was not. The superstitious mob set his home and vehicles on fire.
“The destruction was total”, said Mindu. “The crowd threw home-made grenades. Work is now under way to calculate the damage from this incident and ascertain the real causes of the death of the child”.
The situation in Guro town returned to normal after a unit from the Mozambican riot police (UIR) was sent to the district.
“Fortunately, the situation is now under control”, said Mindu. “Forces from various police units went to Guro, and by Friday evening, the town was calm”.
Mindu urged the public to resist any attempts to disturb public order, which could lead to the loss of life.
“The lack of rain is a natural phenomenon”, he added. “We cannot think that, because of one person, it is not raining in the district”.
The administrator of Guro district, Angelina Nguiraze, said those who had spread the rumour should be held responsible for the rioting and the death of the child.
“It’s sad what we have seen in the district”, she said. “Individuals so far unknown spread a rumour which led to a wave of violence, resulting in a death and the destruction of property belonging to the businessman”.
(AIM)
Nm/pf (410)
