Maputo, 2 Jul (AIM) – Mozambique’s main opposition party, the National Alliance for a Free and Autonomous Mozambique (Anamola), set up by former presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, accuses the country’s Police (PRM) of preventing its members from providing food to several Malawian nationals waiting for transport at the Junta Interprovincial Terminal, in Maputo.
Several Malawians, forced to leave South Africa as result of anti-migrant protests carried out by South African citizens against black Africans, are waiting in Maputo to continue their journey back to their country.
To avoid falling victim to discrimination — which has resulted in looting, forced displacement, harassment, and violent unrest in informal settlements — many Malawians have turned to Mozambique as a route back home.
However, some were forced to leave South Africa before they could even pack their bags, meaning they lack the money to pay for bus fare or purchase basic survival essentials such as food and water.
Therefore, members of Anamola party decided to provide humanitarian assistance, supplying food and water to the victims, especially Mozambicans and Malawians.
However, according to Saquina Jesse, head of Anamola Youth Alliance, the Police refused to let the party deliver aid to the victims.
“They are refusing to let us help the victims. We arrived here in order to help our brothers and sisters. But, unfortunately, they say that we cannot deliver aid to the victims because there is a schedule overlap, as the first lady is on her way to help”, she said.
According to Jesse, this behavior proves that the police are following political orders by blocking actions carried by the opposition parties.
30 June was the deadline day set by the anti-immigrant group March and March, which decided to bring the country to a standstill in a national shutdown protest.
Hundreds of people took to the streets to demand immediate and mass deportation of illegal immigrants living in South Africa. They blame illegal immigrants for several social problems, including the high levels of crime and unemployment.
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