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Notícias (File photo) / Jeremias Pondeca
It was going to be just another routine walk, but destiny was also on the prowl, reports O País this morning.
Jeremias Pondeca left his home in Matola-Socimol on Saturday morning at around 5:00 AM for his usual walk to the Maputo Fish Market area, where he would open his two shops and have a walk along the Costa do Sol beach . But according to witnesses, the Renamo member was approached by four « armed men at around 7 am, dragged to the beach and riddled with bullets.
Pondeca’s eldest daughter of Jeremias told O País that the family was very distressed since her father left Saturday morning and by nightfall they still had no information as to his whereabouts. “We were anxious because we called him several times but he didn’t answer his cell phone. We waited, but he did not return. The distress became more intense when night arrived. We slept, but our minds were not at peace. This Sunday, we heard that there had been gunfire in Costa do Sol and went there for more information. Then we went to the police station where we reported the event,” Suitila Isa Pondeca explained.
Suitila said they were told at the police station to go to Maputo Central Hospital to look at a body with bullet wounds, which they did, accompanied by other Renamo members, identifying the body as that of Jeremias Pondeca.
Those responsible apparently knew Pondeca’s morning routine, facilitating his murder.
Renamo in shock
Interviewed by O País, head of the Renamo political dialogue delegation José Manteigas said he was shocked by the murder of his colleague.
“Jeremias Pondeca has been barbarically murdered. To the bereaved family we convey our deepest sympathies, because here was a man who gave himself to the cause of Renamo and democracy in this country,” he said, in deep distress.
Pondeca was a member of the Council of State and a member of the Renamo delegation in the ongoing Joint Commission dialogue. He had been deputy for Renamo bench for two terms and dies at the age of 55, leaving a widow and eight children.
Orlando Mudumane, PRM spokesman
Police spokesman Orlando Mudumane said that the assassination involved four individuals traveling in a Toyota Runx. “We found seven casings from an AK47-type firearm on site. Until this moment, we do not know the reason of the murder, but various operating lines of the criminal investigation police are on the ground to identify the authors of this macabre crime.”
Daviz Simango, president of Mozambique Democratic Movement
Reflecting on the events, the MDM’s Daviz Simango said: “We condemn this way of solving problems. The interpretation at this point time is that it is a political action. State institutions should clarify this case; it is important that every effort be put into the investigation. It is vital that the PIC (investigative police) is taken out of the Ministry of Interior and integrated with the Public Attorney in order to become more effective.”
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