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Maputo - Mozambique's largest opposition party, the former rebel movement Renamo, on Tuesday blamed the government for "provoking" the riots that rocked Maputo earlier in the day.
The Mozambican news agency AIM reported that Renamo spokesperson Fernando Mazanga accused the government of "repressing" the demonstrators.
Ironically, Mozambican president Joaquim Chissano won a "good governance" award late last year.
Tuesday's riots were sparked by a rise of up to 50 percent in the fares charged by private transport operators who own the minibus-taxis that provide much of the passenger transport in Maputo.
The fare rises were in turn a response to increases in the price of fuel, ordered by the government on 23 January.
Mazanga blamed government neglect for the price rises.
While admitting that Mozambique, as a non-oil producer, cannot affect world oil prices, he claimed that the government could have cushioned the blow by building up stocks of fuel.
"Serious governments use this measure so as not to prejudice their citizens," he claimed. - Sapa
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