Riots in Pemba as police officer shoots a man in the head and kills him – Mozambique

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Riots in Pemba as police officer shoots a man in the head and kills him – Mozambique

1:50 CAT | 06 Oct 2016

Students chant slogans during clashes with the South African police protect at Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, October 4, 2016. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Noticias

A man, whose identity has not yet been revealed, died of police gunshot on Tuesday night 4 October 4 in the city of Pemba, Cabo Delgado province, under circumstances so far unclear.

@Verdade has established that the victim met his death when he was out driving with his brother. Travelling along the Avenida 25 de Setembro, the brothers realised they were being followed by a police car. They continued to drive but when they arrived in Embondeiro, a policeman got into their the car without permission.

The deceased, who was then at the wheel, stopped the vehicle to find out what was happening, whereupon the officer unholstered his firearm and shot the victim in the head, killing him instantly.

The officer who fired the shot that left the deceased’s head practically smashed is reportedly being held for questioning, with police saying they are waiting for the outcome of the investigation before commenting on the case.

Meanwhile, the victim’s family, accompanied by a crowd of supporters, headed to the PRM Provincial Command in Pemba to establish the truth of what had happened and demand justice.

There, the victim’s relatives were advised to hold the funeral at their own expenses and return only later to find out why and how their loved one was killed, as well as to discuss other aspects of the case. This outcome did not please the crowd, who wanted to come out with a solution more to their liking.

The deceased’s relatives, who live in the Natite neighbourhood, did not accept that they should bear the expense of the funeral on their own. The police finally relented and met them to assure them it would provide appropriate support. With nerves somewhat calmed, the crowded then heeded the calls for calm.

This is another death that substantiates Amnesty International’s 2008 claim that the PRM “seems to have a license to kill” as evidenced by escalating police violence against unarmed members of the public.

On 11 September, a citizen identified by Rafael Muthambe died in the 25 de Junho “B” neighbourhood in Maputo, died after being hit by police bullets. Another young man was wounded in the leg.

On the 23rd of the same month, a three-year-old girl dentified as Chocolate Jamal Armando lost her life in Beira, Sofala province, when she was hit by a stray bullet fired by a police officer who, instead of providing assistance, tried to effect an escape that proved short-lived.

Days later, another citizen was wounded by a shot fired by a police officer assigned to the Nhongonhane checkpoint in Marracuene district, Maputo province. The victim, hit in the face, is still under care in Maputo Central Hospital.

These are just a few cases from an extensive list that lies unattended in the authorities’ offices. The deceased’s relatives and survivors alike complain about delays in the progress of cases towards eventual justice, and put the likelihood of those who fired the shots being held responsible at close to zero.

Source: A Verdade