Gildo Mowane is a hero after becoming the first victim of Mozambique's worst political violence in many years. The 22-year-old Mowane was shot in the head with a police AK47 rifle on Wednesday morning - barely an hour after violence broke out in the capital Maputo at around 9am. He had gone to the CBD to buy a sim card for his new cellphone.
On returning home by bus Mowane found his neighbourhood, the bustling slum area of Chamankulu on the outskirts of Maputo, engulfed in flames and chaos. Scores of angry protesters were breaking down the doors of a nearby bank while some looted a store for food. His younger brother, Nelson, remembers Mowane's last moments. "He came out of the bus and tried to tell the police he was coming back from shopping," said Nelson. "This policeman just took aim and shot him. He was the first person to be killed that day and the news drove people mad when they heard about it on the radio and television."
Nelson said the family was too poor to organise a decent funeral for Mowane. "We don't know what's going to happen," he said. "We asked the authorities at the hospital and they said the government won't pay for the funerals of people involved in protests. The family is hurt by this. Very, very hurt. "We will conduct a simple funeral because we are poor and have nothing." The family's neighbours have vowed to help with funeral costs.
Ten more people have since been killed in three days of violence sparked by rising food prices in Mozambique. Family and friends said the continuing strike against food prices would be dedicated to Mowane, who leaves behind two children.
Source: Times Live
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