Maputo, 17 Jun (AIM) – At least two people died and one another was injured following a clash between police officers and a group of moto-taxi drivers who were protesting in the central city of Tete.
The protest was against the way that the police was carrying out their inspection activities in relation to moto-taxi operators.
According to eyewitness, the police decided to open fire against the protesters after they erected barricades and burned tires in the regions of Canongola and Matundo.
There are also reports of several people injured as a result of shots allegedly fired by the police during the unrest.
According to Neide Duarte, director of the Tete Provincial Hospital, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, three victims of gunshot were admitted to the health unit. “Two of them arrived already deceased, while the third was taken to the operating room due to a leg injury, but his life is not in danger.”
Images that went viral on social media show moments of great tension, with people fleeing, barricades and fires along the road, as well as dense columns of smoke. The images also show the presence of police officers, municipal police officers and firefighters deployed to various points in the city.
The unrest caused a temporary disruption to traffic on National Road Number 7 (EN7), considered the main focus of the protests.
(AIM)
ZT/Am
