Matavel murder: Police awaiting superior orders to release investigation report

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Matavel murder: Police awaiting superior orders to release investigation report

3:38 CAT | 01 Nov 2019

Anastácio Matavel, killed by police officers prior to Mozambique elections. [File photo: VOA]

Mozambican law enforcement authorities have not yet released the report of the investigation into the killing by police of human rights activist Anastácio Matavel, on the grounds that it has already been submitted “to the appropriate authorities”.

Matavel was assassinated by Mozambican police officers in the city of Xai-Xai, Gaza province, just days before the October 15 general election, after a session to prepare for monitoring the vote which Frelimo and the opposition looked set to contest vigorously.

Following the murder, the Mozambique police announced the opening of an investigation to render those involved accountable, which it says has now been completed but whose content it cannot disclose.

At the weekly press session on Wednesday (October 30), corporation spokesman Orlando Mudumane confirmed that the conclusion of the investigation would be released “in due course”.

The report “is being analysed at the highest level,” Mudumane said.

The death of Matavel, a prominent Mozambican civil society leader, sparked a strong reaction among human rights defenders, in whose minds the involvement of police officers suggests the existence of death squads bent on silencing the government’s critics.

The murder was carried out by five individuals, four of them linked to the Special Forces. Two died in the incident which resulted in their identification, and two others are in custody, police say.

A fifth man, Agapito Alberto, remains at large.

Source: Voa Portugues