In Quinga: Population sleeps in the forests, authorities flee, and military on the ground

How it all started: A week ago, in the district of Liupo, Nampula province, north of Mozambique, specifically in the administrative post of Quinga, the Ministry of Health sent tents, which were set up. The authorities stated that this was a preventive measure for any cholera situation.

When the population heard this, many of them went to the local chief, who did not have a satisfactory explanation. From there, the population gathered and began destroying the tents that had been set up.

The violence escalated, and two buildings of the FRELIMO party, as well as between 45 and 48 houses of FRELIMO party members, were also burned.

The health infrastructure was not spared: the maternity ward, the hospital itself, and other facilities were damaged. As of the time I am writing, Quinga has no nurses.

In fact, we also don't have teachers or the head of the post. All the police officers have left. Fortunately, military personnel from the Mozambique Defence Armed Forces and agents from the Rapid Intervention Unit were deployed.

After their homes were burned, a group sought out a healer to address the situation and make the people responsible for the burning of the houses die, but this was unsuccessful. The practitioners found out before the ceremony could take place.

However, when they learned that the police and military were coming, the residents abandoned their homes and began sleeping in the forests.

Returning to the healer story, he was beaten before being able to carry out the ceremony and almost lost his life. Later, his family came to retrieve the healer.

So far, there have been no cases of cholera, but according to the population, cholera outbreaks have occurred in previous years.

This year, with the difficult situation and the protests related to election issues, the population seems to be taking the opportunity to express their grievances.

I believe this is why they initially burned the tents, and later the houses of FRELIMO party members, the administrative post's Secretariat, the health center, and the police station.

In recent days, the locals have been sleeping in the forests out of fear, but the military and agents from the Rapid Intervention Unit have been there to try to control the situation, as nearly deadly clashes almost occurred among them.

I think the population should not have burned the party houses or the first secretary's house, but everyone who showed support for the FRELIMO party since the campaign time ended up being a victim. Many lost their homes, including those who have not received any payments from FRELIMO, whose houses were also burned.

There are reports that even the local inhabitants are abandoning the post, as it has become a place of terror. This week, young people who left the village of Liupo to bathe at the beach were beaten. In response, the residents of the village have warned that they no longer want to see the people from Quinga in the village. (BP, resident of Quinga)