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‘I FLED AFTER WITNESSING MY WIFE BEING RAPED, MURDERED’

By Musa Simelane | 2025-01-04

Some Mozambican asylum seekers endured the most gruesome of experiences since the start of the political turmoil and one such person is *José, who witnessed an ordeal of his wife being raped and then murdered.

For José, life will never be the same. The political unrest in Mozambique did not just force him from his home—it shattered his entire world. In the chaos of violence that engulfed his village, the 32-year-old witnessed the unthinkable; his wife *Melina being sexually assaulted by weapon wielding men and then murdered.

Powerless to stop the horror, there was no alternative, but to flee with nothing, but the clothes on his back and a heart heavy with grief. Had he not broken free from some of the thugs, who were also ransacking his abode, he undoubtedly would have been killed.

“It was more like an ambush in our home. Luckily our young daughter was away in the rural areas to be with her grandmother. They held us both hostage and wanted anything valuable we had before turning on my wife. Nobody could help us in that moment,” recounted Jose through an interpreter.

Now residing at Malindza Refugee Camp in Eswatini, José is one of many Mozambicans struggling to make sense of life after unimaginable losses.

The camp offers safety, but it cannot erase the scars of what he endured or the memories that haunt him. He took comfort in that the possibility was very high that his daughter was alive along with her granny.

A relative of José, 29 year old *Amelia, who escaped to Eswatini with her three children, said she was grateful for being alive along with her sister. She was happy that at least they have decent shelter and meals at the camp.

Situation
“There are many people still coming here and this means the situation in my country is not going to get better any time soon. I can already see that there will be a need for more items such as bedding in the camp. But at least we feel safe here,” she said.

Meanwhile, 36-years-old *Emmanuel, originally from Burundi, said he came to Mozambique as a refugee with his parents when he was very young.

He practically grew up in Mozambique and when it was time to get a wife he returned to his original country and got married before heading back to where his life was. Four children including twins, were born from their union while in Mozambique.

“We worked hard to be where we were in life before being forced to escape to Eswatini just a few days ago. I was running a thriving bottle store and a grocery shop in Maputo and made a decent living, taking care of my wife and children,” he narrated.

But, their lives took a 360 degree turn one evening, when he received an emergency call from his security guard that his bottle store was being invaded by armed men.

They were taking everything. Some members of the public were also joining in on the looting.
The security guard managed to escape with his life and timely reported to his employer.

“I called the police, but they told me point blank that they were not coming, lest they be killed. I lost everything on that night. I also heard that the attackers intended to come and invade my residence. That was very unsettling to me as they knew I’m not a born Mozambican,” explained Emmanuel.

In a day or two after that, he and his wife *Angeline and her mother packed whatever they could and hurriedly left that country on a bus. He said he has lost everything and sometimes falls into depression.

Emmanuel said was praying daily to God that the turmoil would end sooner, although he shuddered at the thought of what he would be going back to in Mozambique after losing his livelihood and home.

The current status quo in Mozambique is that the political turmoil is continually unfolding, since October, shortly after that country’s national elections.

Winning of the election by FRELIMO’s Party’s Daniel Chapo was highly contested, more-so by Venancio Mondlane from the Podemos Party, who cited electoral fraud.

However, the decision by Mozambique’s Constitutional Council to validate the election results about two weeks ago fuelled more protests and violence leading to a hiked death toll. The violence has forced thousands of Mozambicans to flee to neighbouring countries, including Malawi, South Africa and Eswatini.

Eswatini our safe haven – Mozambican refugees

The Malindza Refugee Camp in the Lubombo region has truly become a temporary haven for countless Mozambican families fleeing the devastating grip of a political unrest.

Aside the inconvenience and discomfort of leaving their homes to a foreign land under such grim circumstances, never have they put so much value on safety and peace that they have come to appreciate in the Kingdom of Eswatini.

A day and night without sounds of gunfire or bloodcurdling screamsfrom men, women and children, is priceless.

Opening up to the Saturday Observer during a visit to the camp, these families said being in a state and place where they are unafraid of sudden attacks by machete or gun wielding blood thirsty slayers cannot be exchange for any silver and gold.

Since stepping into the kingdom via buses, kombis and small cars, some a week or two ago and others just yesterday, they have been able to let their guard down and be at ease despite the trauma.

This was evidenced by their children frolicking around without a care in the world. Their ages make them oblivious to the harsh turn their lives have taken. Men were seen huddled in twos or threes and in a conversation, and women nursed their young ones.

There is a general relaxation in the camp while new arrivals try to familiarise themselves with their new environment.

Once secure in their homes and livelihoods, these families now face a harsh new reality shaped by violence, loss, and uncertainty of the future. For many, the journey to Malindza Refugee Camp was one of desperation—a last resort after conflict tore apart their communities, destroyed their homes, and robbed them of their peace of mind.

The camp now stands as a fragile lifeline, offering shelter but unable to replace the sense of stability and identity they left behind.

With their influx into the kingdom,they bear various accounts of profound loss, resilience and hope that the situation in Mozambique will soon improve so that they can get back to their lives, pick up the pieces and move on. But the shadow of the conflict they escaped continues to loom large in their minds, reminding them of what was and what might never be again.

Take for instance *Alberto, a 42 year old father of three children who used to run two shops in Maputo and generally lived well and took care of his family back home.

With the help of an interpreter, he told this newspaper that losing what he had worked hard for and becoming a refugee was difficult to come to terms with. Since his arrival almost a week ago, he has been thinking about a lot of things, like the education of his children that seemingly will be disrupted for an uncertain period.

“In my mind I’m still thinking that I need to pay for school fees and to get some uniforms. I’m still in Mozambique mentally, yet the situation in my country seems very uncertain,” said Alberto.

He said being in Eswatini at this point in time was far better than being in his home country, but with more of his countrymen arriving in the refugee camp, the resources were becoming lesser. He said he had no chair to sit, for instance, and slept on the floor.

Also, thought having a television and radio would help take their minds away from the trauma and perhaps even get news updates about home.“So far I wake up in the morning and have nothing to do right until evening.

There is nothing to do and I’m used to being busy,” he added.
Alberto said he had faint memories of the Mozambican political unrest of the past that forced many people to flee to neighbouring countries as is the case nowadays. He was aware that history was repeating itself and reliving the experience of his parents.

His 15-year-old son said he was feeling alright and was getting enough food so far. Clothing was not an issue because he had brought enough.

He was glad that everyone (family) was present, nobody had been killed. Before coming to Eswatini he witnessed a man with a long knife breaking into a house not far from his home with no good intentions. He believed it probably was some of the escaped prisoners.

The family was living in fear right up to the day they had to escape.

Emaswati extending cautious welcome

As waves of Mozambican refugees arrive at Malindza Refugee Camp in Eswatini, fleeing political unrest in their homeland, local residents are extending a cautious welcome.

One of the senior residents of Mpaka, Gertrude Mazibuko, reflecting on the kingdom’s history of hospitality, recalled the civil war decades ago that also brought Mozambicans into Eswatini.

While many were integrated peacefully, she noted that the period was not without its challenges, including isolated instances of crime. But long lasting friendships were formed and everybody coexisted very well.

“Back then, we opened our arms to our neighbours in need, and we hope to do the same now,” Mazibuko said.

“But we remain vigilant to ensure that peace and harmony are maintained in our communities.
This is a different generation of refugees and we are yet to see what kind of people they are.”

Mazibuko also mentioned that there was an element of fear from some residents as they see more refugees coming into the camp, which is in their neighbourhood. But the key thing is for residents to properly secure their properties to avoid unwanted situations.

As the situation continues to unfold in Mozambique, she believes that communities have to navigate the complexities of balancing compassion for displaced families with a commitment to safeguarding their own communities.

Malindza Umphakatsi (Royal Kraal) headman, Sipho Dlamini, said although there was nothing much he could say about the refugees, the arms of the chiefdom were open to embrace the Mozambicans as they go through some difficult time.

“We sincerely hope and pray that the situation back home will improve so that they can return and continue with their lives,” stated Dlamini.

Fears that life will never be the same again

Some Mozambican refugees feel that they will never be the same after witnessing people being burned alive and others killed in very gory ways.

*Nancy, an elderly, said what she and her children witnessed was beyond what many people can take. She was more worried about the psychological impact it would have on them later in life.

She narrated that groups of seemingly very angry men mercilessly broke into homes and assaulted innocent families and burnt their homes.

“There are many Mozambicans, who have been very injured and are left behind because their movements are limited by their physical impairments. Families had to part ways with their loved ones for the sake of survival. It is difficult to breathe when I think about the deaths of young men and women I’ve seen,” explained Nancy.

She took comfort in that most of her family members, about 15 of them, were able to make it across the border into Eswatini and other neighbouring countries. However, she was worried that currently, the place they have been allocated to sleep in was small for their number.

Grace’s hope is to see her husband again

Hope is still alive for 44-year- old *Grace that her husband will one of these days join them at the refugee camp despite that it has been two weeks since she arrived in the kingdom.

She had to make a quick decision to hop onto a bus that was just about to leave for Eswatini or be left behind and risk being attacked and killed with their six children.

This was just a day after several men had descended on their home and tried to force her husband to join them in an army apparently they were building up.

According to Grace’s 15-year-old son, who spoke a bit of English, his father pretended as if he was obliging to their demand and when they had left the house for another one he slipped away and escaped. He said they did not quickly notice or give chase.

“My father called my mother to let her know that he was alright, but she should not stay at the house any longer. He instructed us to escape to another country,” said the son.

Grace mentioned that she did speak to her husband two days ago and he told them they should not worry too much because he would surely join them. Her husband is Mozambican while she is Burundian.

Together they had property and businesses, but were all burnt down.
Grace and her older children are always keeping an eye open whenever another bus or any transport arrives at the camp.They miss him a lot.

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