N4 chaos: Moz protesters seized trucks, blocked key export route
Observers not satisfied
Frelimo party has governed Mozambique since 1975
Protesters in the Mozambican border town of Ressano Garcia seized control of a number of trucks and used them to blockade a key metals-export route from neighbouring South Africa on Monday, according to the Trans African Concessions, which operates the route.Public buses were also prevented from operating on the N4 highway and passengers were forced to get out and walk, the operator said.
Traffic flows had resumed by the early hours of Tuesday morning, the TRAC said in a later statement.
The N4 highway links South Africa industrial heartland in the centre of the country to the Maputo port and is an important export route for chromite and ferrochrome.
In a different incident, tires were set alight on Monday on the road near a toll plaza outside Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, causing some damage, the TRAC said. It had urged people to avoid traveling over the border until calm had been restored.
Mozambique has been gripped by turmoil since October 9 elections. The official results showed the ruling party extending its 49-year hold on power and its presidential candidate Daniel Chapo winning 71% of the votes cast.
But independent candidate Venâncio Mondlane, who placed second, dismissed the outcome as fraudulent and has called for protests to ensure the electorate’s will is respected.
The Constitutional Council has instructed the electoral authorities to provide it with tally sheets from seven of the 11 voting constituencies for verification.
Mozambique's ruling party Frelimo has retained power in this month's national election, extending its five-decade rule in the Southern African state as the opposition accused it of fraud.
Frelimo's Daniel Chapo, 47, will succeed President Filipe Nyusi to become Mozambique's fifth president since its independence from Portugal in 1975. Nyusi is stepping down after serving the maximum two terms.
Chapo won over 70% of votes, the electoral commission said on Thursday. Venancio Mondlane, backed by the Podemos party, came second with 20% of votes, displacing former rebel movement Renamo, which had been the official opposition party but whose candidate came third this time around.
-additional reporting by Reuters