Extraordinary Events?

Mozambique--Extraodinary events are taking place all over Mozambique now. The secretary genera of Renamo, Ioussufu Momade, has been taken hostage in Nampula by Renamo's own men who want to be paid for the work they did during the last municcipal elections. Momade went to Nampula without money and the members of Renamo in quetion took him hostage accusing him of having stolen the money meant for them.

Beira mayoralty to Renamo as he wom the seat with the support of Renamo members. Renamo wants him dismissed. And Mbararano, the Renamo party chief in Beira, backed by Manuel Pereira, blasted those intellectuals in Renamo who called for Dhlakama's resignation and for an extraordinary congress as suckers who are trying to bite the hand that feeds them--that is they are ingrates towards "Dhlakama who gave them their bread." So Renamo wants him dismissed.

Dhlakama is avoiding Beira altogether, prefering to stay in Maputo far from the madding crowd. The Beira hero fo yesterday is making himself unavailable in Beira, which has become a psychological no-go area for him.

An armed group has ambushed and attacked a bus carrying, as reported, at Ndoro between Caia and Gorongosa. some feople were injured. no information as to the identity of the attackers.

Frelimo appears to be wallowing in a sham victory over an apparently stolen elections in the face of a disunited opposition. It is inconceivable that Frelimo should be so popular with a population that is largely left out of the development picture. As for Beira, tolerating Daviz Simango is a necessary evil for Frelimo as it serves its interests and itactics of splitting Renamo.