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The Conflict with Renamo, 1976-1992
«September 1987»
Dossier MZ-0020
91. Among the Costs of War: Thousands of Deaths and Businesses Destroyed
Above: Renamo copied Frelimo's practices from the time of the Liberation Struggle against the Portuguese, even to the extent of setting up school classrooms in the bush for local children.
Various reports published in September attempted to quantify the costs of the conflict with Renamo to Mozambique. It was estimated that 100,000 people had died as a result of the war, 20,000 people had been "captured" and then released by government troops in Cabo Delgado alone. Around 5,000 head of cattle had been killed in Zambézia Province, and, of course, the war had also spilled over the borders into neighbouring Zambia and Zimbabwe. Children had been abused and orphaned in large numbers, and some had even been used in terrorist attacks. Over 1,000 small businesses had been destroyed.
In a report to the 2nd Session of the Assembleia Popular, Mozambique's parliament, it was stated that international understanding of the real nature of Mozambique's struggle was growing as a consequence of diplomatic efforts. The report made special mention of a visit by a delegation from the European Parliament.
In a Renamo raid on a Methodist mission in Inhambane, 28 people were killed and others were abducted, including some nurses. The attackers also stole medical supplies from the mission dispensary.
Click on the yellow folder image below to download an unsorted zipped archive of documents and press clippings in PDF format concerning the conflict between the Mozambican government and the MNR/Renamo in September 1987.
