This is taken from Leisure wheels..
Here is Kingsley Holgate’s account of how he and his party got ambushed at midnight by AK47 wielding youths in northern Mozambique.
Potholes and Bullets
We make it to the end point of the Rio Save military convoy without serious hassles. Then duck north-east onto a dirt track that crosses the Busi River via a clapped-out ferry and across a beautiful floodplain over the Pungwe to arrive in Beira in the dark – only to learn there are still more challenges ahead.
Now I don’t want to make too big a thing about this and put people off coming to Moz, its a great country and there are no troubles in the south, but the truth is that for this northern area there will have to be peace talks with Renamo otherwise it’s going to escalate into a real bun fight! Renamo are also attacking cars and trucks on the road to Tete and the Malawian Minister of Transport is urging truck drivers to take the longer route through Zim, stating that the Tete convoy is too risky. This Renamo issue is affecting an already bruised economy says our host in Beira who together with others urges us not to take the Dondo gravel road through to the Zambezi as was our plan as it seems bandits have also attacked and burnt out vehicles on that road.
A call to friends in Gorongosa National Park seals our fate: ‘Taking the Dondo road is like playing roulette. Don’t do it.’ comes the reply. So after a break in Beira,we ‘pothole’ it all the way to the start of another bloody military convoy, this time from near Gorongosa to hopefully take us through the beautiful natural forests past Renamo’s stronghold and down to Caia on the Zambezi. The game is on! We juggle for position,dodging potholes and racing past eager bus,truck and bakkie drivers all whom, it seems, want to be directly behind the lead armored vehicle. And then,about an hour into our journey, the wildfire shooting starts.
Machine gun and AK bullets spray the forest. Leaves and dust everywhere! We come across another burnt out vehicle on the roadside. Some of the troops jump down AK’s at the ready. Thick forest either side of the road – I think what sitting ducks we are. This section of the road could also win the SADAC Pothole award. In the Landy Pink Floyd plays ‘Wish you were here.’ Life on expedition is never dull. We’re first into Caia filling station for diesel. The soldiers give us a thumbs up we give them some coldrinks and water and then we’re off across the Zambezi. We break west to take the narrow track to Morrrumbala.The elephant grass higher than the Land Rover. Beautiful scenery. No Renamo here were told. All quite and peacefull from here on.
We cross the Shire River on a hand – winched ferry and then head North up the Shire valley. Malawi here we come. But the late convoy start and the hassles on the convoy mean we can’t make the border in time,so we pull off the road to not be too conspicuous,light a small fire,throw out a tent and bedrolls and sit back. It’s the most beautiful starlit sky imaginable….
They hit us around midnight. We hear whispers in the bush. I shine my torch and then they’re all over us shouting and throwing our kit around. The torch gets slapped out of my hand. AK’s in our faces. Very nasty! Fortunately one of the soldiers speaks a little English. I take him by the hand and try and reason with him. Stop. Be calm. We’re just tourists. One of the soldiers gets into our tent and throws the bedrolls out. The bunch is high on tension and question and start forcing us at gun point to pack the Disco. Two guys force themselves into the Landy. Drive to the border we’re told.
These young soldiers are threatening and want bucks. We keep calm. At the border compound they take our car keys and passports but allow us to put up a tent. In the morning we talk they say. One arrogant youngster says ‘Hey mister you not the boss. This the boss.’showing me his AK.
During the night Sheelagh and I get a message out to a well connected mate in Maputo who by morning has a strongly worded Portuguese message on our phone assuring the authorities of our credibility. It helps a bit but still we are searched from bumper to bumper. ‘We thought you were Renamo’ said Mr Big. ‘The villagers thought you had come to kill them, they saw your lights in the bush and came to report to us, so we came to kill you… I get one of them to add a message to the large Canvas and leather bound Scroll of Peace and Goodwill that we carry on every expedition. Seems that at this rather tense time with Renamo, it’s sorely needed. Will keep you posted.”
Source: 4×4 forum – July 4th ,2016
Image: Kingsley Holgate Foundation
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