Mozambique: fiftieth anniversary of the Portuguese led Wiriyamu bloodbath

On 16 December 1972, a village in northern Mozambique nearly disappeared from the map. Wiriyamu noticed its inhabitants killed one after the other by the hands of the Portuguese army, who invaded the territory throughout the colonial battle.

On the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of the bloodbath, solely 4 survivors can inform the story within the first particular person.

Vinte Gandar nonetheless remembers how he misplaced pals and neighbours, and but the inhabitants remained silent when requested about their assist for the “turras”, the identify given to the combatants of the Mozambique Liberation Entrance (FRELIMO who’s at the moment in energy)

“The inhabitants at all times stored its silence and mentioned ‘no, we do not know’, however then they began to kill. They thought that by killing one after the other some could be afraid and would inform the reality, but it surely did not occur”.  Vinte Gandar, a survivor mentioned.

The survivors acknowledge that their braveness was important to take care of the independence motion. Doquiria Gucinho carries in her physique the testimony of that day. 

“They put us in the identical place, the lads went to a line, whoever tried to flee was killed, whereas we ladies have been sitting” she mentioned. “Then they threw a grenade at the place we have been sitting. My mother-in-law fell, hit within the chest, I used to be wounded within the leg and fell down bathed in blood. Solely within the night I realised I wasn’t lifeless”, Gucinho added amidst tears.

It took virtually 5 many years, for Portugal to acknowledge the Wiriyamu bloodbath.

This 12 months, António Costa apologised to Mozambique for the barbarity dedicated throughout the colonial battle, an act that, within the phrases of the Portuguese Prime Minister, is “inexcusable” and “dishonours the reminiscence” of the nation.