Two opposition Renamo party mayors and heads of lists in the Mozambican cities of Quelimane and Nampula have in the past four weeks claimed that members of the Mozambique Republic Police (PRM) had been involved in foiled attempts to assassinate them.
The two mayors made the accusations ahead of municipal elections slated for 11 October 2023, in which both will seek a further five-year term of office.
Paulo Vahanle, the current Mayor of the northern Nampula city, told the public on 24 August that an attempt had been made on his life two days prior. And two weeks later, the Mayor of central city of Quelimane, Manuel de Araújo, told the media that he too had been the target of a failed attempt on his life.
Addressing the police on Friday, ahead of next Tuesday’s national holiday, PRM General Commander Bernardino Rafael said that the police had nothing to gain in assassinating the two mayors. “Who does the polic wish to assassinate? To gain what,” asked Rafael, adding that there are “politicians who play the victim rather than publish their manifestos, rather than speak of water….”
“Unfortunately, when a politician does not know that a member of police is a voter, he is lost. With so many in the police force, you offend one. How many votes have you lost? … We’re not the opposition. But pay attention! We’re voters and ours is a true vote because there are no police who do not vote. So, you better respect us,” he said.
Comment
Vanhale and de Araújo have reasons to fear for their lives. Vanhale’s predecessor in Nampula was gunned down by unknown assailants, and police is no closer to solving the murder.
In February 2020, police shot at de Araujo’s vehicle. At the time, police said there had not intended to fire against him. In 2013, a policeman fired at a crown celebrating de Araújo’s municipal election victory and killed musician Max Love.
Both Vanhale and de Araújo presented people who they claimed were members of those tasked to assassinate them. It transpired that there were indeed members of police who were part of the police dignitaries’ protection unit.
Four years ago, members of a police death squad shot and killed civil society activist Anastâcio Matavele. That the killers were policemen, it was because there were involved in a car crash as they made their gateaway. Two police died on the spot, one was caught, and another got away.
Until then, police had shrugged any accusations that it had hit squads. But this time it could no longer deny the accusation. Consequently, police denials should be taken with a grain of salt.
Meanwhile, Bernardino Rafael seemed to enmesh himself into politics by accusing the opposition of having no vision and who might have scored an own goal. He further insinuated that he could control the police force’s vote towards one direction.
Unfortunately, Rafael will not be reprimanded for his forays into politics.
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