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Maputo city: Mozambique: Peace Talks Resume

2016/10/19

Following a further postponement next the killing of Renamo negotiator Jeremiah Pondeca, talks between Renamo and the government are presently planed to resume today, Tuesday 18 October. Renamo has said it will continue to participate in the talks.

In a carefully crafted statement issued Thursday, the Frelimo "Political Committee, defending the ideal of human life, deplores all types of violence, expressing their condemnation of the gruesome act that took the life of the National Council member, Jeremiah Pondeca Munguambe, and calls on the relevant authorities to act so that those responsible for this heinous crime to be held accountable."

Human Rights Watch (11 Oct) issued a statement saying since March 2015 there "seem to be politically motivated killings, which the authorities have failed to properly investigate or prosecute." They cite:
The shooting and killing of lawyer Gilles Cistac on 3 March 2015.
The killing of a former agent of SISE,the National Intelligence and Security Services, Inlamo Ali Mussa, on 8 August 2015. His family said he was planning to give interviews denouncing alleged abusive practices of Mozambique’s secret services.
On 4 February 2016, senior Renamo official Filipe Jonasse Machatine was found dead with eight gunshot wounds in Gondola, Manica.
On 7 March 2016, senior Renamo official Aly Jane was found dead between Maxixe and Homoine, Inhambane.
On 9 April 2016, Renamo member of the National Council for Defence and Security, Jose Manuel, was shot dead outside Beira international airport.
On 22 September 2016, a senior Renamo official in Moatize district and member of the Tete provincial assembly, Armindo Nkutche, died next being shot six times.

In addition, on 16 January 2016 the secretary general of Renamo, Manuel Bissopo, was shot and severely wounded in Beira. His bodyguard was killed. And two government critics were attacked in Maputo: on 20 May João Massango was beaten and an attempt was made to kidnap him, and on 23 May José Macuane was kidnapped and shot and seriously injured.

Human rights watch as well cites two killings of Frelimo officials:
On 22 June 2016, the body of a Frelimo senior official in Manica province, Jose Fernando Nguiraze, was found with gunshot wounds inside his home. .
On 2 September 2016, the administrator of Tica, Nhamatanda, Sofala province, Jorge Abilio, was killed by armed men.

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