.8.
The regulo was afraid and ran to the Portuguese authorities, asking
for protection. Portuguese troops occupied that zone, and for two weeks
they guarded Nhaphale1s home.  As the guerrillas did not come out, the
Portuguese soldiers left, recommending that the regulo tell them when he
noted any suspect signal. .
When the soldiers left, the regulo, convinced that the threat made' by
the populace was only a bluff, looked for a  victim on whom to revenge'
himself, and thereby reaffirm his authority.  In his region there lived a
couple with two children.  The man owed the chief the vassalage tax of one
year. The regulo sent his policeman to bring him to him.  As the policeman
did not find him at home, they brought his wife.  Nhaphale. tied her to a
tree and whipped her. When her husband heard of this, he. ran to the house
of the regulo and tried to beat him«*"••' The regulo told his policemen to
arrest him, shut him with his wife in a hut and set it on fire, b,urning
them to death.
FRELIMO guerrillas were informed of what had occurred, and decided to
punish the regulo.  They disguised themselves as soldiers of the colonial
army, wearing uniforms previously captured from the enemy.  They went to
the house of the regulo, and told him:  "We are from the Portuguese army.
We came to talk to you, but first you must call all the inhabitants of your
area."
The people came.
The head of the FRELIMO group addressed the people, saying:  "Regulo
Nhaphale has just given a lesson to a bandit who did not obey him.  Anyone
among you who will allow the bandits of FRELIMO to make disorder or who
will not obey the orders of the regulo Nhaphale will suffer the same fate.
Is that not true, regulo Nhaphale?"
"I will kill them, or I will arrest them and send them to the post,
as His Excellency the Administrator will wish. These people want independence, but they cannot have it. Black people dc not understand anything.
They cannot rule themselves.  I will punish them!"'
"Regulo Nhaphale, we are members of FRELIMO. We came because we heard
that you mistreat your people", said the FRELIMO guerrillas.  And speaking
to the people, they said:  "This regulo has burnt two innocent people
alive, without any reason. Do you want to continue with such a chief?"
The people answered, "No!"  Encouraged by the presence of. the guerrillas,
they arrested the regulo, gave him a summary trial and sentenced him to
death.  His policemen had meanwhile escaped. ' .
Nhaphale was executed because he betrayed the interests of his people,
aligning himself with the enemy.