Increase in kidnappings frightens traders in Sofala – Mozambique

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Increase in kidnappings frightens traders in Sofala – Mozambique

1:48 CAT | 10 Apr 2017

DW / Mahsun Mahdi, a Bengali merchant in Nhamatanda, central Mozambique

A spate kidnappings is creating a climate of fear among Asian and European businesspeople in Sofala. In 2016, nine Bengali and one Portuguese businessmen were abducted, and the police have generally failed to arrest the perpetrators.

Bengalis traders living in the central province of Sofala claim to have been the victims of robberies, threats, kidnappings and killings recently.

Mahsun Mahdi, from Beira city, cited one case: “We heard that [the] family sent money for the ransom, but they still did not release the victims. We are not safe, because there is a lot of gangsterism about. They steal money, phones and more from us.”

Azam Muhamad, also a trader, told DW Africa that he is concerned about security. “We are not safe because the situation is not good. We know that the local government has done something to ensure the safety of foreigners, but it is still little.”

In March, another Bengali was abducted in Beira as he returned from Nhamatanda where he was developing a business. According to DW Africa, after doing some shopping in Beira, businessman Moktar Assif was kidnapped in the Manga neighbourhood and has not been seen since.

Attempts to pay a ransom have been fruitless. Relatives have paid more than one million meticais (about EUR72,000), but the merchant has nevertheless been missing for more than forty-five days now.

One of Moktar Assif’s relatives refused to give more details about what had happened, and said only this: “We have nothing to say. Because here in Mozambique people do not help, I can give you information and then suffer the consequences That’s why I do not want to talk.”

No signs of kidnapped Portuguese businessman

Kleiner Laden in Nhamatanda, Sofala — Small shop in Nhamatanda, Sofala

In June last year, Américo Sebastião, a Portuguese farming and forestry businessman, was abducted from Nhamapaza administrative post in Maringue district. Feliciano Vilancaze, secretary of the Nhamapaza neighbourhood and an employee of the businessman, told DW that “when he comes from Beira, he usually sleeps at my house and phoned me when I was sleeping to tell me he was going to buy fuel. So, I waited for him but could see that he was running late. I was later told by police that he had been kidnapped”.

Security guard Tomé Vasco witnessed the abduction of the Portuguese man at a gas station in Nhamapaza. Vasco reported that “it was in the morning when a van went by where a white man was talking on the phone. He filled up and after he finished talking the bandits took him and handcuffed him. They put him in the van, locked the doors of the car and sped off.”

Several other Bengalis have been the victims of criminals who steal large sums of money from them when they go to the interior of the province to buy gergelin, cashew nuts and beans.

Mahdi tells the story of one such trip. “[The Bengalis] were kidnapped when some workers and the Bengali merchants were in a truck carrying about five tons of gergelin. The thugs stopped the car, stole the money, and then, burned the truck in a secluded spot with all the people still inside.”

The police opened a criminal case at the time, but haven’t as yet brought anyone to trial. As far as the missing Portuguese businessman is concerned, the police recently announced that they would extend investigations countrywide and into neighbouring countries as well.

Source: Deutsche Welle