In a swift turn of events,Renamo has threatened on taking revenge for the alleged ambush against the motorcade of its presdent, Mr Afonso Dhlakama, on Saturday evening in the province of Manica.
Although the attack was witnessed by several journalists, the ruling Frelimo Party claims it was a simulation organized by Renamo. Reports that the riot police were involved have been denied both by the Manica Provincial Police Command and by the general command of the police in Maputo,the capital.
Renamo claims that the purpose of the attack was to assassinate Dhlakama. Yet not only is Dhlakama still alive, but nobody at lost life. Four members of the Renamo militia suffered injuries.
On the Thursday press conference in Maputo, Renamo secretary general Manuel Bissopo, threatened that Renamo "will react, because this kind of state sponsored terrorism cannot be tolerated".
"Renamo will us everything within its reach to take revenge for this direct attempt to assassinate the person most dearest to Mozambicans, who has dedicated his life to returning dignity to the Mozambican people", said Bissopo. "The people will react to see justice done".
Bissopo though added,"this is not a declaration of war, but let it be clear that we shall react politically and intelligently".
This statement is in clear contrast to the Renamo leader's own words of mouth soon after the Saturday incident, when he pledged that there would be no revenge.Bissopo claimed that the Commander of the Army, Gen Eugenio Mussa, had "planned, organised and gave the order for the plan to assassinate the President of Renamo". He was carrying out "higher orders that he brought from Maputo".
Renamo, he continued, believes that those direct orders came from President Filipe Nyusi, and that Defence Minister Atanasio Mtumuke and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces (FADM), Gen Graca Chongo, were also involved. Bissopo claimed that nobody except Nyusi would authorize an attempt on Dhlakama's life.
Bissopo named a captain and two sergeants who were allegedly involved in the ambush. He said they had led a group of about 20 soldiers, but only the three officers survived the clash unharmed. 12 of the FADM troops were killed when Renamo returned fire and five were injured.
Bissopo did not explain how he could possibly know these details, or how a small group of Renamo militants firing into a patch of Manica bush in the pitch dark could be so lucky as to hit no less than 17 of their opponents. Nobody else has seen any bodies resulting from this confrontation,
since the defence and security forces has denied involvement in the attack, Bissopo demanded a "serious ,thorough and impartial investigation". On the other hand,the police say that they are already investigating, and Frelimo has accused Renamo of not being cooperative in this ''investigation''.
