Arma de fogo do tipo AK-47
Maputo, 19 Feb (AIM) – Mozambique’s National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) has recovered an AK-47 firearm and thirty-five rounds of ammunition allegedly stolen last December during the mass demonstrations called by the former presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane protesting against the fraudulent results of the 9 October general elections.
The demonstrations started peacefully but then degenerated into rioting and looting. In clashes between protesters and police, over 300 people were shot dead.
According to the SERNIC spokesperson in the northern province of Nampula, Enina Tchinine, the firearm was stolen when rioters invaded police stations in the Nampula city neighborhoods of Namicopo and Namiepe.
She explained that the firearm was recovered following a tip-off from an individual, who found it abandoned along with the respective ammunition.
The raiding of police stations and gun theft were clearly not ordered by Venancio Mondlane – indeed, Mondlane has urged his supporters not to take part in such actions. The authorities have not yet identified those behind the attack against the police stations.
“We recovered a total of 35 rounds of ammunition, 34 AK-47 rounds and one pistol round”, she said.
The firearm had been stolen from one of the police subunits in Nampula city, and hidden by people who, feeling under pressure, realized that they could no longer keep it.
About a week ago, the Police announced the recovery of the six firearms, five AK-47s and one pistol, allegedly stolen under the same circumstances.
The Nampula police also presented to the reporters two individuals accused of vandalizing a farm in the district of Meconta, during the post-election demonstrations.
(AIM)
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