Mozambique: Opposition cancels rally after official is shot

Mozambique’s opposition Renamo party called off a planned rally on Thursday in Beira, the second largest city in the country, a day after the party’s secretary general was shot by unknown assailants in the area.

Manuel Bissopo, the party’s secretary general, is in critical condition after he was shot in his car moments after he held a press conference to denounce the kidnapping and killing of opposition members.

#Renamo secretary-general shot hours after #press conference #Beira #Mozambique https://t.co/ZLG7d48tSQ pic.twitter.com/PHT95F9f8C

— Club of Mozambique (@clubOmozambique) January 20, 2016

“We condemn the attempt to silence the opposition. It is a deliberate attack on democracy. We want those responsible for the shooting to be brought to justice,” party spokesman Antonio Muchanga told Reuters.

The ruling Frelimo party has however denounced claims that it was behind the attack, stating that they ‘‘play by the rules of democracy’‘.

More than 2,000 Mozambicans have fled their homes to neighbouring countries to escape clashes between rebels and government soldiers in the coal-mining province of Tete after renewed tension in the southern African state.