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Afonso Dhlakama

MAPUTO. – Mozambique’s government accused revived rebel movement Renamo yesterday of attacking a coal train belonging to Brazilian miner Vale, as a simmering conflict struck a vital artery of the country’s economy. “Renamo shot at a train transporting coal and hit the driver in the leg,” deputy interior minister Jose Mandra said on state-run radio, describing the attack in central Sofala province late on Tuesday despite peace talks between the parties.

But the movement, which is also the Southern African country’s main opposition party, denied attacking the strategically important Sena railway line used by foreign mining companies.

“Since this conflict began Renamo has never attacked the Sena line. Why would we, today when we are reaching an agreement . . .   attack the Sena line?” Renamo spokesman Antonio Muchunga said in the capital, Maputo.

Renamo last year threatened to carry out strikes against key installations, including the Sena line which transports coal from the northwestern Tete province to the coastal port of Beira.

Last June Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto temporarily halted exports via the same line following the threats.
Renamo frequently denies allegations it has been involved in unrest. It is also not always clear if attackers actually are part of the movement or taking advantage of the situation.

Muchunga claimed the Frelimo-led state attacked the railway itself to discredit their opponents.
“This attack was perpetrated by the forces of the government,” he said, reiterating the party’s much-used counter-accusation against the government since their conflict was reignited in 2012.

The attack, at around 9:00pm local time (1900 GMT) Tuesday night, took place between the towns of Muanza and Dondo in the central Sofala province.

The injured driver managed to reach the city of Beira after uncoupling most of the wagons. Authorities had since retrieved the remaining wagons, according to the deputy interior minister.

“This was an effort to destabilise the country,” Mandra claimed.
The attack took place as negotiators from Renamo and the government continued to hold talks aimed at easing tensions in the capital Maputo and appeared close to reaching agreement on a ceasefire.

Local media have reported a series of military skirmishes in Sofala province over the past week.
The Sena railway is currently the main export route for Tete’s vast coal reserves – thought to be the largest untapped source in the world.

Last month Vale said it hoped to double exports from Mozambique by 2015 after the completion of a US$6,5 billion terminal and another 900-kilometre railway line.

Transport problems are largely to blame for low export volumes since mining started in 2011.
Last year, Vale Mozambique posted a loss of over US$480 million after exporting just three million tonnes.

Five years after investing in the Tete province – considered one of the world’s largest untapped coal fields, the company has yet to make a profit.
The former rebel Mozambican National Resistance became the official opposition after a peace treaty in 1992 ended its 16-year civil war against the ruling Mozambique National Front party (Frelimo).

But Renamo took up weapons again after its leader Afonso Dhlakama returned to one of its wartime base camps in 2012.
Since last year gunmen reportedly from Renamo have killed scores of people – mostly civilians – in attacks on vehicles along the main north-south highway.

The movement demands – and was granted – greater inclusion in electoral bodies, as well a share of lucrative new mining revenues as the country’s gears up for massive natural gas exploitation.

Despite making progress over a year of peace talks have so far failed to halt the attacks, but negotiators in March agreed to allow international observers attend their peace talks.

The government hopes to agree on a deal before presidential elections in October, where Renamo may possibly lose its official opposition status to new political party the Mozambique Democratic Movement. – AFP.