Elections

It is never a good idea to write about politics when living in another country, so I’m not going to say much.  This is an election year, for local offices (presidential election is next year) and it hasn’t been going very smoothly.  One of the parties which is not in power has been unhappy for a long time, and not too long ago decided that the peace accord signed between it and the other main political party (which is now in power) was null and void.  Those two groups were at war (literally) with each other for many years.  However, since that decision there have been numerous shootings, invasions, and armed attacks of vehicle convoys.  I can’t speculate here as to who or why, but at this point travel between the central city of Beira (about 14 hours south of us) and the capital city in the far south can only be done in armed convoy.  We know someone who was in the convoy when it was attacked a couple of weeks ago, and some people were injured by gunfire.  There are reports of many killed in various altercations.  There has been other activity north of Beira, blocking our travel to that city, and a few armed instances about 30 miles outside of our city.  There are all kinds of rumors flying about the incidents close to us; some say that it is the opposition party and some say it is armed bandits.

At any rate, we felt uncomfortable enough about those instances to keep our children from traveling on that road to school this month (we kept them at home) and the school closed two weeks early because of possible danger.  As the elections approach tomorrow, we are alert and on guard to see what will happen.  We are thankful that here in the city things are calm and we feel no immediate threat to ourselves, but we wonder what will happen in the elections, especially since the opposition party has refused to participate.  Probably the end of elections will not signify an end to unease and unrest, although we wish it would.

Please pray for Mozambique:  for peace and for freedom of movement in the country.  For safety for us, and wisdom.  You can read more about the situation here:  www.clubofmozambique.com