The nation of Mozambique has been in a state of hesitant solitude as turbulence rocked its streets earlier in the week. A contested election victory claim by the ruling party has caused the capital, Maputo, to cautiously tread back towards normalcy, though widespread dread persists among the populace. Instances of vandalism and looting have left the city’s denizens in escalating trepidation, with resources like food, medicine and fuel dwindling rapidly. Add to this the audacious break from a maximum-security prison by over a thousand inmates, and you have a city besieged by fear, escalating wild rumors, and prompting the formation of local patrols for security.
Maria Amelia, a 55-year-old cleaner residing in Matola, near Maputo, narrated her frightful tale to AFP. She was woken up by her neighbor, who warned her about men wielding machetes prowling in the streets. Reporting her experiences, she said, ‘Upon stepping out, I observed my neighbors armed with knives, ready to confront these invaders. However, I didn’t witness anyone. The situation was horrifying.’
Similarly, Armand Tembe, a 40-year-old bank employee in Maputo was prematurely startled out of his sleep. Despite not sighting any criminals himself, the uncertainty of the situation left him increasingly scared. His perturbed comment ‘I don’t know where the country is going,’ perfectly encapsulated the general sentiment among the citizenry.
An anonymous local woman described their experience, ‘We patrolled till 4:30 in the morning for something we couldn’t visually confirm and was something we merely heard about.’ The situation seemed more surreal than real, causing widespread apprehension, and alluding to a sinister master plan.
An independent investigator stated that there were no concrete reports confirming the alleged attacks. Interestingly, the police chief’s public statement on Wednesday evening, suggesting that escaped detainees could break into homes, added fuel to the looming fear. In chilling undertones, he noted, ‘There seems to be a theory that this mayhem might be a ruse by the government to tighten its grip amidst the ongoing social dissent.’
The leader of the main opposition, Venancio Mondlane, had strongly rejected the electoral results on October 9 and alleged foul play. The country’s apex court confirmed the ruling Frelimo party, which has been at the helm for over five decades, the victor on the past Monday. The confirmation ignited sparks of unrest, leading to violent riots that allegedly claimed more than 125 lives, as per reports by local NGO, Plataforma Decide.
Mondlane let loose a scathing remark against the ruling party, stating, ‘We are aware of who the actual bandits are – it’s Frelimo.’ The unfavorable verdict and announcement set off a wave of public outcry that took to the streets of Maputo.
On the roads of Maputo, slowly but steadily, the makeshift barricades were coming down, while military units assisted in clearing some of the pathways. Notwithstanding the inherent uncertainty, residents have been reluctantly stepping out of their houses in search of basic necessities.
Voicing the common man’s plight, Isabel Rocha, a 29-year-old woman in the Laulane district of Maputo said, ‘I’m out searching for bread.’ Her comment came after restless nights fueled by concerns over safety. ‘The bakeries have closed their doors for four days. In reality, scarcity is rampant. Even the small grocery stores have downed their shutters.’
Lina Chauque, a 47-year-old woman, sat gloomily on the sidewalk with a large bundle of lettuces and cabbages by her side. She had been waiting for two hours amidst fears, alongside other women, for a bus to carry their items to the market. Despite their plea for assistance from passing truckers, none were ready to lend a helping hand.
Nearby, a long queue of vehicles patiently awaited their turn at a petrol station operating with barely one functioning fuel pump. Their patience evidenced the dire scarcity of fuel in the city.
Tomas Panguene, a 65-year-old man, expressed his struggle in looking for medicine for himself and his aging mother. He suffers from knee pain, an ailment that has now magnified given the circumstances. ‘Yesterday, I ventured out in search of a pharmacy, but due to the barricaded streets I was unsuccessful. Thankfully, I managed to find what I needed this morning.’
Despite the current state of turmoil, the resilient citizens of Maputo are slowly inching back towards normality. However, the atmosphere of uncertainty and fear is a clear reminder of the fragile state of affairs in the city.
While the ruling party continues to wield its power and the opposition cries foul, the common citizens are the ones most beleaguered. Their plight raises pressing questions about the path the country is treading, echoing Tembe’s anxious statement, ‘I don’t know where the country is going.’
As an international observer, the tumultuous state of affairs in Mozambique is a grave reminder of the chasms that political instability can create, leaving a nation and its citizens in a state of ongoing unease, uncertainty, and dismay.