On the morning of May 13, 2025, around 9:00 a.m., residents of
Macomia village, in central Cabo Delgado, took to the streets to protest the
detention of a young man accused of making illegal electricity connections. EDM
(Electricidade de Moçambique), during an inspection, reportedly discovered the
illegal act and referred the case to the police.
Protesters marched to the Macomia District Command with the aim
of securing the young man’s release. He is known in the community for helping
several families in different neighborhoods by connecting them to the power
grid. However, the attempt was unsuccessful, as police forces were deployed to maintain
order and public safety. The PRM fired several gunshots to disperse the crowd.
In addition to the young man accused of illegal power
connections, another protester was also arrested, accused of being the
instigator of the demonstration. The situation became tense, leading police to
fire shots into the air to break up the crowd.
Residents blame EDM for the lack of expansion of the power grid
in the district. In many neighborhoods, only a handful of homes have access to
electricity. According to reports, obtaining a legal power connection in
Macomia is a difficult process that can take years, causing many to give up.
Protesters also claim that EDM only responds quickly when large
sums of money are paid.
“The young man brought all the necessary materials for the
installations. If he doesn’t work for EDM, where was he getting those materials
from?” questioned some of those present at the protest.
Due to the gunfire on Tuesday morning, part of the population
fled to nearby bush areas for safety. Tension remained high in the district
headquarters neighborhoods until late in the afternoon.
As of late afternoon, the two young men remained in custody at
the district police cells, awaiting further action from authorities.
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