On Thursday morning (6), demonstrators blocked access to Filipe Nyusi Airport, located in Nhancutse, Chongoene district, Gaza province. The residents are demanding free electricity and drinking water, benefits they claim were promised in exchange for giving up land to build the airport terminal, according to the newspaper O País.
The N102 road, which connects the N1 to the city of Chibuto and passes by the airport, was barricaded by the protesters, who set fire to tyres and set up roadblocks, preventing vehicles from circulating. The action created traffic jams and made access to the airport difficult, affecting passengers and airport staff.
The Republic of Mozambique Police (PRM) in Gaza province confirmed the incident and said that officers had already been deployed to the scene to investigate the situation and ensure public order.
‘The corporation has learnt about the blockade and has sent agents to assess the events. More details will be released in the next few hours,’ said a PRM press officer.
The protest at Filipe Nyusi Airport is not the only one in the region. On the same day, the population of the village of Bungane, in Chongoene, blocked National Road Number 221, which gives access to the districts of Mandlakazi, Chibuto and Guijá. The demonstrators are demanding the electrification of the area, a government promise made in 2014 that has so far not been fulfilled.
‘We are on strike in protest at the lack of water and energy. The promise to electrify the area is old and has never been fulfilled,’ said a resident of Bungane.
The blockade began at around 5am and forced many motorists to turn back, jeopardising passengers whose schedules were interrupted.
‘I do the Mandlakazi-Xai-Xai route, but since 6am I’ve been stuck here with passengers who need to get on with their programmes. We’ve tried to talk to the group, but they refuse to authorise passage. It’s sad,’ lamented transporter António Samuel.
The district government, through the director of the District Infrastructure Services, tried to negotiate the unblocking of the road, but to no avail. According to José Macaringue, the lack of funds prevents an immediate solution, but there is a project for the phased electrification of the area.
‘We’re asking for trust, because the electrification process will be carried out in phases. In the first phase we had many communities and in this second phase it will be the turn of Bungane and others. As for the water situation, we will be receiving a team of contractors to visit the supply system, but all the work is being done at central level so that these infrastructures can be handed over to the community. Given how long people have been deprived of these services, we understand the strike, but we ask for patience,’ he explained.
As well as energy and water, the people of Bungane are also demanding the construction of a secondary school.
