Albino Paulo Manguene, a young theologian and pastor, escaped an assassination attempt on Wednesday afternoon, in the 'white house' area, on the stretch between Praça dos Combatentes and the 'Expresso' traffic light junction (Hulene/Laulane), on the outskirts of Maputo city.  

He himself says that he was questioned when he was walking home with one of his assistant pastors.

"We turned off a road to head home and there was already a car positioned there, I believe, waiting for us. It was a white, double-cabin, new-looking car with South African license plates. There were two men in the front (inside) and two outside the car, with the windows sanded down. My impression was that they were doing something minor. I passed on the right side of one of the men who hit me. When I moved forward a few steps, I felt a blow on my head with a shank. When I turned to see what was happening, I noticed a hammer with which I had been hit on the foot. I was frightened because another man was already coming with a bigger hammer. I started screaming and trying to get away. That's when I climbed over the wall of a nearby house to ask for help. But thank God, as people were passing by, they saw the people's concern, got into the car and drove off at high speed," he said, noting that when he regained his composure "I realized it was an assassination attempt".

After the incident, he was treated at a local health unit and underwent surgery on one of his feet, where he was hit with a hammer.

In an interview with Success TVHe said that, according to the doctors, his clinical condition is stable.

He says he has no doubt that the assassination attempt is due to the critical way in which he intervenes in media debates.

"Absolutely. I don't see any other reasons or motivations. I have been one of the outspoken people in my criticism and too sincere and honest for some in the way I treat some issues. That can upset those who are directly mentioned during my approaches," he acknowledged.

In his view, the attack is a form of intimidation and retaliation. "But it seems that the agenda was to take my life," he said.

"I think that was the hand of God," he believes.

He also revealed that, on other occasions, he had been the target of intimidation and threats in a "friendly way, but I've never been in the same situation as today".

In spite of everything, he said he's still going.