Renamo demands investigation into alleged murder of its brigadier

Maputo, 18 Sep (AIM) – Renamo party, which used to be Mozambique’s main opposition movement, demands an immediate investigation into the alleged murder of its member and brigadier Pensado Alfinete, in the central province of Sofala.

The victim was found dead last Friday at his residence under unexplained circumstances.

According to Renamo spokesperson, Marcial Macome, speaking to reporters, in Maputo, Alfinete had been summoned to an initial meeting with the police district shortly before his death, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for Thursday.

The spokesperson questioned why a civilian who had already completed his demobilization process was being repeatedly summoned by law enforcement.

“After signing the agreement on the cessation of military hostilities, he demobilized and resumed civilian life like any other Renamo combatant. Curiously, he was forced by the district commander to present himself. To date, we have received no explanation regarding the causes of his death”, he said.

The last closure of Renamo military base took place on 20 June of 2024. The “Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration” (DDR) of the Renamo militia took a long time and led to the closure of all Renamo military bases, and the demobilization of 5,200 Renamo fighters.

Now Renamo faces a moment of crisis as some members have been putting pressure on the current party leader Ossufo Momade to resign. They blame Momade for Renamo’s poor showing in last year’s general elections. This movement to sack Momade has once closed down almost all the Renamo provincial delegations.

Warning of potential civil unrest, Macome demanded urgent answers from Police “before former guerrilla fighters take action.”

“Brigadier Alfinete served as a commander of forces defending democracy. Seeing their commander murdered in such a gruesome manner, these individuals may independently seek explanations directly from the figures involved.”

When asked about the agenda for Renamo’s upcoming National Council meeting, scheduled for 21–22 October, Macome declined to elaborate, stating the matter remains under the exclusive purview of the party’s Political Commission.

(AIM)

Zt/Am/