Due to the "Chama da Unidade" that's raging through the country, the director of the organization where I sometimes work in Maganja da Costa forbade me to head into the community this afternoon. This call for unity began on April 8th, 2010 the day after Mozambican Women's Day. President Armando Guebuza initiated the torch in Nangade district in Cabo Delgado province and the torch is supposed to pass through every district in the country (128) over the course of 70 days (they are running a bit behind schedule apparently). The goal of this massive publicity stunt is to spread a message of national unity, peace and multi-party democracy to support the rule of law in the country.
I did all of my food shopping in the morning (dried fish, baking powder, milk powder, oranges, tomato paste, cooking oil etc.), but once my bag was packed everyone at the office looked worried. The whole town is "agitated" and all along the road that I take to the community there are marching crowds. These crowds are gathering to see important FRELIMO figures and others carry a flaming torch across the country to show unity with the party. I'm stuck here one more night and hopefully the roads will be passable without the need to stop for large crowds along the way (quite dangerous, since I wil be burdened with a 30kg hiking pack and all on my own). I was told I shouldn't even leave the office on foot right now. I'm obeying orders.
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