AMBUSHES
During October, 1971 and January 1972
FRELIMO guerrillas in Cabo Delgado
carried out 30 large-scale ambushes in
the zones of Ancuabe, Nangade, Ng'apa,
Palma, Namatili, Nazombe, Sofala, Ravia,
Mauguide, Namocha, Mueda, Macomia,
Namwalilya, Inhankoma, Cuero, Chai,
Mucojo, Ntowe and Miengelewe. More
than 110 enemy soldiers were killed in
these ambushes, 7 lorries destroyed and
many prisoners freed from the concen:
tration camps.
SABOTAGE
We undertook 38 major sabotage operations during October, 1971, - January,
1972, in the zones of Sagal, Diaca,
Mueda, Nangade, Pundanhar, Nantadora,
Chai, Nangololo, Nancatar, Macomia, Inhankoma, Quiterajo, Quinjenambi. More
than 150 enemy soldiers were killed, and
37 vehicles blown up. A typical case of
one of our sabotage actions took place on
the 14th November, when a convoy left
the post of Sagal towards Diaca. They
entered a mined zone, 2 lorries were
destroyed and 8 soldiers were killed.
The column asked the post of Diaca for
reinforcements. Another convoy then
left Diaca. On the way they hit a mine
which destroyed the front lorry and killed
3 soldiers. The 2 convoys, too afraid to
go on, called in helicopter and aircraft
support: 4 helicopters and bombers were
sent and established communication between the two convoys, collected the dead
and rescued the wounded. Then after
communicating, each convoy made a half-
turn and returned to their posts of origin.
A bridge spanning the river Nnangu (on
the road between Mocimboa da Praia and
Diaca) was destroyed on the 22nd December.
NIASSA
attack against the post of macaloge
On the 23 rd December, 1971, our comrades launched a heavy attack against
the post of Macaloge, situated between
Unango and Lulimbo. The post was
considered by the enemy to be impenetrable by FRELIMO, a secure place where
the sick and wounded soldiers were sent.
It garrisoned more than one batallion
(about 600 troops). The post was composed of the barracks, the administrative
centre, the hospital, and a road constructing centre named TAMEGA. The buildings in the post included 10 very large
8
houses (some of which were one-storied
buildings), 16 medium-size and several
other small houses. The post controlled a
concentration camp (one of the so-called
«protected villages))). Since the beginning
of the war in Niassa, the post had only
suffered two light infantry attacks in
1965.
Our forces made a concentrated attack
with artillery and infantry. The attack
was launched on the 23rd of December,
at 8.45 p.m. and lasted one hour.
The post was completely destroyed. The
first mortar shells exploded the fuel
depot, and the glaze of the fire enabled
our comrades to see their targets and to
aim accurately. Many enemy soldiers
were killed, the buildings were entirely
wiped out, the cars exploded, and the
material of the construction company
was completely burnt. The enemy did
not react to our fire.
SABOTAGE
In 17 sabotage operations, during October - December, 1971, our comrades
destroyed 22 cars and 2 caterpillars, and
killed more than 60 Portuguese soldiers
in the zones of Vila Cabral, Meponda,
Catur, Massangulo, Mandimba, Metangula, Lunho, Luvila, Olivenc^, Candulo,
Mecula, Litunde, Mitende and Conge-
renge.
bridges
Our sabotage units destroyed 3 bridges:
on the 11th September, 1971, the bridge
spanning river Muazeze, which linked the
posts of Oliveira and Mandalawi, was
blown up. On the 25th of September, it
was the bridge of Chinenje, on the road
Oliveira - Massangulo. On the 10th
December we destroyed completely the
bridge over river Macong'onda, made of
concrete, 5 Kms. from the post of Macaloge.
trains
After the destruction of a train on the
railway line between Nova Guarda and
Catur, on the 15th September, 1971,
where the locomotive and 2 wagons were
blasted, our comrades organised another
sabotage action on the same railway line.
Thus, on the 24th of November, when a
train was going from Catur to Luchimwa
carrying troops and goods, it entered the
mined zone. The engine and 4 wagons
were blown up, and rolled a considerable
distance away from the rail line. We estimate that about 20 enemy soldiers were
killed and many others injured.
AMBUSHES
19 nd 27 November, 1971: The enemy
invaded the zone of Metangula. They
were ambushed several times and forced
to retreat without being able to launch
any single action against us.
6 December: The enemy landed in the
District of Mwembe. They were attacked
as they landed and had to flee from our
zone leaving several dead on our soil.