Mozambique 12 August: The worsening war
Good afternoon. As fighting in Tete flares up, the refugee camps in Malawi set up to house fleeing Mozambicans are filling up again, witnesses told Zitamar News this week.
FREE TO READ: Mozambicans flee to Malawi again as fighting restarts in Tete
Renamo is also upping the intensity of its attacks, according to reports from central Mozambique. Villages in the district of Morrumbala were the scene of heavy fighting last year, but this morning Renamo armed men reportedly attacked the local government headquarters in the town itself.
Later in the day, government vehicles travelling in the convoy between Manica and Tete were also fired upon – including cars belonging to state broadcasters RM and TVM. Meanwhile, the two sides have failed to agree on a ceasefire – so fighting can be expected to continue.
SEE: Mozambique government rejects Renamo cease-fire proposal
The two decades of peace in Mozambique saw maritime freight transport, or cabotage, fall out of use, but the current government is – like its predecessor – trying to revive it. If attacks on Mozambique’s trunk roads continue, it could make it even more urgent.
SEE: Mozambique shipping operator seeks partner for cabotage JV
French energy and environment minister Segolene Royal was in town last week and has pledged to find a way of financing a French-owned solar power project up in Cabo Delgado.
SEE: France pledges support for Mozambique solar project
Meanwhile, coal miner Jindal has put out another tender in the process to building a 150MW coal-fired power plant in Tete.
SEE: Jindal’s Mozambique power project launches another tender
Have a great weekend.