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The Conflict with Renamo, 1976-1992
«January 1983»
Dossier MZ-0020
35. Summary Executions of MNR
Members in Macia and Magude
Above: Gen. Sebastião Mabote speaking to a crowd at a meeting in Magude, a few days after the Macia events, and at which further executions were carried out.
In a development that caused an international outcry, four captured MNR fighters were summarily executed by firing squad at a rally on the 11th in Macia, north of Maputo. The prisoners were presented to a large crowd of about 2,000 people, and Gen. Sebastião Mabote, who was leading the meeting, asked the crowd what should be done with them. In response to shouts of "Kill them" he ordered them to be executed on the spot. Joaquim Chissano, then foreign minister, was present at the meeting. A few days later three other prisoners were publicly shot in Magude, also at a meeting directed by Mabote, and supposedly in response to the people's expression of their will.
After quantities of ammunition, explosives and weapons were discovered at Beira International Airport, several people were arrested, described in the South African press as "whites". They included Dion Hamilton, of Manica Freight Services, and his deputy Benjamin Fox. Several Portuguese citizens were also detained.
Consolidated Downloadable Zipped Files
Click on the yellow folder image below to download an unsorted zipped archive of documents and press clippings in PDF format concerning the armed conflict between Renamo/MNR and the Mozambican government in January 1983.
