The attack took place in the district of Barue, in the central Mozambican province of Manica, as a convoy under armed escort drove along a section between the small town of Vanduzi and the Luenha River on the border with Tete province. This is part of the EN7, which carries traffic from neighbouring countries such as Zambia and Malawi through Tete and Manica on to the port of Beira.
The victims were both drivers of commercial vehicles. Mozambican Sergio Florindo Macie was hit in his left leg, whilst Malawian Frederick Mutenbde Kalua was shot in the buttock.
According to the spokesperson for the Manica Provincial Police Command, Elsidia Filipe, both drivers received treatment at the rural hospital in Catandica. She added that the defence and security forces returned fire, driving the attackers back into the bush.
The police spokesperson added that over the weekend there were two serious traffic accidents. In the provincial capital, Chimoio, a crash badly damaged three vehicles. Meanwhile, in Barue an accident resulted in several deaths and serious injuries.
So far this year, over 80 people have died in traffic accidents in Manica province. The police state that the main causes of road accidents are excessive speed, careless pedestrians, drunk driving, mechanical defects, lack of signage and ignoring the rules of the road.
Post published in: Africa News