By Aurélio Muianga
Maputo (MOZTIMES) - The Ressano Garcia border between Mozambique and South Africa returned to normal operations on Friday, as from 18.00, after three days of blockade by demonstrators who support the presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane. They do not recognise the preliminary results of the 9 October general elections, which gave victory to Daniel Chapo, candidate of the ruling Frelimo Party with 70.67% of the vote.
The re-opening of the largest overland border point in the country happened earlier than expected because of negotiations between the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) and the demonstrators. The latter wanted the re-opening to be delayed until 21.00, to coincide with the whistles, hoots and bangs ordered by Venâncio Mondlane. He had called for an hour of noise between 21.00 and 22.00, to end what he called the “first part of the fourth phase of the demonstrations”. For the three days from Wednesday to Friday he had called for a general strike, particular in the provincial capitals, the ports and the transport corridors.
In the three days that the Ressano Garcia border was paralysed, the Mozambican state might have lost revenue of 4.5 billion meticais (about 70.4 million US dollars). This figure is based on the estimate given by Tax Authority spokesperson Fernando Tinga for the earlier stoppage on 21, 24 and 25 October. Tinga put the losses then at 1.5 billion meticais a day.
MOZ TIMES witnessed the start of the free flow of traffic across that border, 90 km from the capital Maputo, which was celebrated with the honking of horns from the hundreds of cars and trucks that were waiting in line in both countries to cross the border
But, fearing a change of opinion from the demonstrators, mostly young men 25 to 30 years of age, the drivers and passengers who crossed the border were obliged to raise their hands and wave with three fingers, since three was the position on the presidential ballot paper occupied by Venâncio Mondlane.
According to the shift chief on duty at the immigration post (who did not give his name since he had no authorisation from his superiors), the number of people who crossed the border in the three days fell to 150-200 a day, compared with more than 5,000 on a normal day.
"The Frontier did not actually close, since that would require a decree”, he said. “What happened was a reduction in movement, due to the conditions imposed by the demonstrators who only allowed a car to pass if it was carrying a coffin”. The other vehicles drove through at the moment that the demonstrators withdrew for the night to rest.
Asked about the supposed shooting by one of his colleagues, on 5 November, of a demonstrator, during an earlier stage of the demonstrations called by Mondlane, this immigration officer did not confirm it and said it was just a pretext for the demonstrators to attack immigration staff, because they have long wanted to retaliate for being banned from the frontier area where they used to earn some money by helping travellers stamp their passports and carrying goods of small importers so that they do not pay taxes.
He said that 40 staff, including himself, had crossed the border to seek help in South Africa, where they were accommodated for three days. The demonstrators took the opportunity to vandalize state property, and invaded the homes of the staff where they stole their property and smashed up personal vehicles.
"Our security is compromised because they are continuing to look for us and they know that we live in the same neighbourhoods as they do. Some demonstrators threatened the owners of houses rented by staff”, he said.
He added that, when officials from the Maputo Provincial Directorate visited to assess the damage, the staff suggested building a complex for them to end their vulnerability to the local population.
Unemployment and election fraud are the main causes of demonstrations in Ressano Garcia
Young people in Ressano Garcia say the main reasons for their demonstrations are unemployment and the theft of votes from their presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane by the National Elections Commission (CNE) to favour Daniel Chapo.
For one resident, Alberto Tembe, this demonstration is intended to comply with Mondlane’s demand to occupy the frontiers, ports and development corridors. "We agree with our President of the Republic, Venâncio Mondlane, whom the Mozambican people voted for. The people didn’t vote for Chapo, and that is why they are revolting against the theft of votes", he accused.
Jaime Pinga added: "the demonstrations we are holding here in Ressano Garcia are because our candidate, Venâncio Mondlane, won these elections, but they don’t want to hand power over to him. In Botswana the opposition candidate who won the elections is already governing, and not even a scratch or a drop of blood was necessary”.
For Pinga, young people support Venâncio Mondlane because of unemployment, and regard him as the person who will bring the solution. "Here large companies such as Giga-Watt and the chrome terminal operate, but they don’t hire local labour. Instead, they bring people from Maputo city, who are the children and relatives of the Frelimo leaders. They argue that the locals don’t have professional qualifications”, he said.
As for the chrome terminal, Pinga says “this company brings no benefit to the population of Ressano Garcia, it just causes pollution that damages our health".
"Where does Frelimo think we will find the money to send our children to school? Here in Ressano, we don’t want Frelimo any more", declared Pinga.
Another demonstrator agreed with Pinga, saying that the youths of Ressano Garcia are fed up with unemployment, and Venâncio Mondlane had just triggered a problem which had long been tormenting them. “We’re going to burn down these State institutions that don’t serve us”, he threatened. “We’re going to burn down the Ressano Garcia administrative post within a week”.
The demonstrators regard the customs and immigration services as public institutions that collect millions of meticais a day, but the government does not provide the minimum conditions to improve the lives of the local people.
Demonstrators condemn the behaviour of the Defence and Security Forces
Demonstrator Alberto Tembe condemned the attitudes of agents of the police Rapid Intervention Unit (UIR – the riot police) who were in charge of controlling the situation in Ressano Garcia, because early on Friday morning they fired tear gas grenades into homes.
Another demonstrator claimed that during the day the UIR agents wanted to open fire against the demonstrators, but this did not happen because the military vetoed it. The soldiers warned that if the UIR did open fire, they would withdraw because they do not agree with that attitude.
The UIR agents have been condemned for excessive use of force during the demonstrations, But in Ressano Garcia, on the last day of the fourth phase of the demonstrations called by Mondlane, his supporters reported that there were no clashes with the FDS. (AM)
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