Maputo, 13 Nov (AIM) – A group of anti-government demonstrators on Wednesday morning closed down the Ressano Garcia border post, between Mozambique and South Africa, the largest of Mozambique’s terrestrial border posts.
The demonstrators were following instructions given by fugitive opposition leader Venancio Mondlane who had vowed to impose “terrible damage” on the Mozambican economy during what he called the “fourth phase” of the demonstrations intended “to restore the truth about the elections”.
According to the independent television station STV, at about 06.00 the border was blocked by two stationary trucks. Demonstrators had taken their keys.
Even after the trucks were removed, no traffic flowed across the border in either direction, although about ten kilometres to the south a queue of trucks was waiting to enter South Africa.
On the Mozambican side, several dozen demonstrators blocked the road. The only vehicle they allowed through was the car of the STV crew, and even that had to be negotiated.
Despite promises made the previous day by police commander Bernadino Rafael that the roads would be secure, the police made no attempt to clear the demonstrators. By midday the standoff was continuing.
There were no demonstrations inside Maputo or the neighbouring city of Matola. Traffic was flowing along the city roads but at a lower level than normal. The minibuses that provide much of Maputo’s passenger transport (and are known colloquially as “chapas”) were reluctant to take to the streets without firm security guarantees.
Many shops remained closed, but informal traders kept their stalls operating on the pavements.
Although many private schools closed their doors, state-owned schools were open. STV visited three Maputo secondary schools which were giving their pupils end-of-year tests.
In the rest of the country, there were also no demonstrations. At the Machipanda border post, between Mozambique and Zimbabwe, there were no protests and traffic was flowing normally.
Calm was also reported from Tete and Nampula cities. Indeed, although Mondlane had called for marches in all the provincial capitals, by mid-afternoon none had happened.
Mondlane’s whereabouts remain unknown. He had told his followers that he would return to Mozambique to lead the “march on Maputo” last Thursday. He broke this promise, claiming that he had received “thousands” of messages from supporters, telling him to “stay where you are”.
(AIM)
Pf/ (384)
