Mozambique war victims flock into Zimbabwe

Hundreds of Mozambique war victims have fled their country into Zimbabwe as clashes between government forces and Renamo rebels escalate.

The over 500 refugees are living in an open space in a bush in Mabee village in Chisumbanje, eastern Zimbabwe near the Mozambique-Zimbabwe border, without adequate access to food or water.

“We have come to stay here in Zimbabwe as refugees.We are also asking for assistance from those who can help us because we live like animals now,” Rumbidzai Ndlovu said.

“We are run away from war in Mozambique which was brought by the rebels . The day we fled Mozambique the rebels came at our township open fired and all police officers also ran away. So we decided to come to Zimbabwe to seek refuge,” another refugee, Ellias Chingowe added.

Another group of about 200 families who arrived in June are living at different locations and were lucky to get assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The Mozambique bloody civil war resumed in April 2013 after ending in 1992.

The second segment of the war left several killed while hundreds were raped and tortured .

Earlier between 1981-92 close to one million were killed while five million were displaced during intense fighting.

After a relative calm period,tensions renewed again in 2014 after Renamo leader Alfonso Dhlakama demanded control of six provinces-a move that was rejected by Filipe Nyusi’s government.