At least a third of the 6,200 hectare wild life sanctuary of the Gorongosa National Park, in the central Mozambican province of Sofala, was completely destroyed by uncontrolled bush fires between 2 and 9 October, reports Wednesday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias".

A severe shortage of cement is paralysing some construction work in Maputo city and province, and in the neighbouring province of Gaza, reports Wednesday's issue of the independent daily "O Pais"'.

Mozambique's main opposition party, the former rebel movement Renamo, on Wednesday accused the ruling Frelimo party of instructing hoteliers to deny rooms or meals to Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama and his election campaign team.

Mozambican President Armando Guebuza on Tuesday urged the people of Massinga district, in the southern province of Inhambane, to reject poverty, just as they would reject any attempt to return to war.

The election campaign of the opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) in Gondola district, in the central province of Manica, has ground to a halt amid demands for the replacement of the current MDM district delegate.

The leader and presidential candidate of Mozambique's main opposition party, the former rebel movement Renamo, Afonso Dhlakama, was prevented by stall holders themselves from campaigning in the main market of the northern city of Lichinga.

The presidential candidate of the opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), Daviz Simango, has promised that an MDM government would reduce Value Added Tax (VAT) from 17 to 14 per cent.

The Independent Party of Mozambique (PIMO) on Tuesday became the third of the country's minor parties to announce that it is supporting the re-election campaign of President Armando Guebuza.

Two Mozambicans, a Congolese and a Tanzanian were arrested in Vereeniging, South Africa, on Sunday, in illegal possession of five kilos of gold, reports Tuesday's issue of the independent daily "O Pais".

The Mozambican Education Ministry is planning to recruit about 11,500 new teachers for the next school year, which is only slightly more than half the number needed to solve the problem of overcrowded classrooms.

The opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) in the central province of Manica says it has evidence, in the form of video tapes, of attempts made by supporters of the ruling Frelimo Party to sabotage its campaign.

A vote for Mozambique's ruling Frelimo Party is a vote to continue the fight against poverty, declared the party's presidential candidate and incumbent, Armando Guebuza, on Monday, in Zavala district, in the southern province of Inhambane.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria last night at the National Stadium had to wait till the 88th minute to pick the maximum three points.

Nigeria on Sunday only just kept alive their dreams to feature in next year's World Cup finals after they pipped a resolute Mozambique 1-0 at a deserted Abuja National Stadium.

The leader of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) and its presidential candidate, Daviz Simango, confirmed on Saturday that his party is submitting a formal complaint to the Attorney-General's Office because of its exclusion from nine of the 13 parliamentary constituencies in the forthcoming general elections.

The Local Initiative Investment Budget (OIIL), granted by the central Mozambican government to each of the 128 districts as from 2006, has created 1,180 new jobs in Manica district, in the province of the same name, according to the general secretary of the ruling Frelimo Party, Filipe Paunde.

A group of 10 youths, who claimed to be members of Mozambique's ruling Frelimo Party, on Saturday publicly defected to the opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), at a rally in the northern city of Nampula, addressed by the MDM presidential candidate and mayor of Beira, Daviz Simango.

Mozambique's National Elections Commission (CNE) on Saturday accused the chairperson of the Youth Parliament, Salomao Muchanga, of lying in his claims that the CNE had boycotted a September debate organised by the Youth Parliament.

Mozambique's National Elections Commission (CNE) is giving a state subsidy to a coalition that no longer exists.

An enormous crowd turned out to greet Mozambican President Armando Guebuza on Friday as he carried his campaign for re-election into Gaza province, the part of the country that has provided the most solid support for the ruling Frelimo Party ever since independence in 1975.