MAJERMANES TRY TO DISRUPT FRELIMO CAMPAIGN

MAJERMANES TRY TO DISRUPT FRELIMO CAMPAIGN

Maputo, 6 Nov (AIM) – A group of Mozambicans who were once migrant workers in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) on Wednesday tried to disrupt the election campaign of David Simango, the candidate of the ruling Frelimo Party for mayor of Maputo.

Simango held a rally and concert on Wednesday afternoon at the Freedom Garden in the inner Maputo neighbourhood of Alto-Mae. This garden has been used for several years as a meeting point for the former migrants (known colloquially as “majermanes”), and a handful of them were present banging on drums and chanting anti-government slogans.

Although the GDR passed into history almost two decades ago, groups claiming to represent the majermanes continue to insist that the Mozambican government owes them vast sums of money.

What the government regards as a final settlement with the majermanes was reached in 2005. This paid the former migrants the equivalent of 48 million US dollars: since there were about 16,000 majermanes registered with the Labour Ministry, that worked out at an average of 3,000 dollars each – a huge sum for most Mozambican households. The money consisted mostly of compensation for exchange rate losses on that part of their wages the migrants had transferred from Germany to Mozambique, and repayment of their social security contributions.

Despite this settlement, groups of majermanes have continued to demand yet more money. Some of them were in the garden displaying placards with slogans such as “If you want to be corrupt, vote for Frelimo”.

Simango declined to respond to provocation. The election campaign “is a festive occasion, and we are not going to spoil our party”, he declared. Since Simango had the PA system, and the musicians, he could drown out the noise from the magermanes.

Simango called for proper maintenance of the Maputo housing stock. “Many of the buildings we live in are in poor condition, and if we continue like this, we run the risk that Maputo will cease being one of the most beautiful cities in Africa”, he said.

He wanted to “reorganise” neighbourhoods such as Xipamanine, Chamanculo and Mafalala, which have never been properly planned. This would not involve pushing the residents out to more distant areas, he pledged. “All this work will be done with the participation of the citizens, so that their interests are safeguarded”, he said.

As for security in the capital, Simango stressed the need to improve the organisation of neighbourhoods into blocks and establish close liaison between them and the police and with the private security companies that have proliferated in Maputo.

In an organised city, the residents should also be organised, he said. This included a clampdown on noisy parties. “I call on parents to strengthen the moral and civic education of our children”, said Simango. “We can educate our children to avoid noise pollution. Entertainment or leisure events should not be held to the detriment of the tranquility of other citizens”.

In the neighbouring city of Matola, the Frelimo candidate for mayor, Arao Nhancale, promised an improvement in street lighting. “The lack of lighting in our streets results in high levels of crime”, he told his supporters, “because the criminals take advantage of the darkness to attack honest people”.

Speaking to residents of the Matola-F neighbourhood, Nhancale promised to improve the access roads, tarring them if possible, and to build bathrooms in the local market. Security in the market would be improved by building a fence round it.

“At the end of my term of office, if I’m elected, I want you to feel that what you would like us to do, has in fact been done”, declared Nhancale.
(AIM)