Police attack Renamo march in Gurúè

Maputo, 13 Aug (AIM) – The Mozambican police (PRM) opened fire with tear gas on Sunday against a march of the main opposition party, Renamo, in the municipality of Gurue, in the central province of Zambezia.

According to a report on the independent television station STV, the purpose of the march was to present to the Gurue public the Renamo candidate for the governor of Zambezia, Manuel de Araujo.

Ironically, the attack on the match took place during a seminar in Gurue on election disputes, which brought together district judges, prosecutors, police officers and representatives of the electoral bodies.

Addressing the seminar, Araujo denounced the police attack as illegal and unconstitutional. During the clash, three Renamo members were injured, and received medical care at the local hospital.

“We were prevented from marching in a clear and direct violation of the Constitution of the Republic”, said Araujo. He promised to make an official complaint against the police at the Gurue district court.

When reporters asked the Zambezia police commander to explain his men’s behavior, he claimed there was no attempt to ban the march. He was not fully informed about what had happened, but he believed here had been an attempt to change the route previously agreed between Renamo and the police.

(AIM)

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