Armando Mude, a senior police commander, said Saturday that the deadly incident took place near the town of Inchope in central Mozambique the previous day.
The police official said the gunfight broke out after armed men in the 12-vehicle convoy transporting Afonso Dhlakama, the leader of the Mozambican National Resistance, also known as Renamo, opened fire on a minibus carrying civilians.
The minibus driver was killed and three passengers were injured as result of shooting by guards escorting Dhlakama.
“According to PressTV reports, it seems the minibus came too close to Renamo’s convoy, who thought it was attacking, so they opened fire,”
Police arrived on the scene and a fierce gunfight erupted and nine deaths are reported among Renamo’s ranks.
The police official added that the opposition leader and surviving members of his convoy fled into the nearby bush.
Contrary to the police reporting, Dhlakama, a former Renamo rebel chief turned opposition leader, claimed that his convoy was ambushed.
Antonio Muchanga ,Dhlakama’s spokesman, said the opposition leader was unhurt after being “ambushed for the second time in two weeks.”
On September 12, 2015, Dhlakama escaped without injury after his convoy was attacked by gunmen as he returned from a rally in the central province of Manica.
Dhlakama has described the latest encounter as a “planned attack” by the ruling Frelimo party, Mozambique Liberation Front.
The opposition leader, then rebel chief, waged a 16-year civil war against the government that ended in 1992.
Dhlakama refuses to recognize the results of the 2014 elections. He has also threatened to seize power by force in the northern half of the country.
Author
