Mozambican authorities investigate kidnapping of South African businessman in “all of the province” of Cabo Delgado

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Mozambican authorities investigate kidnapping of South African businessman in “all of the province” of Cabo Delgado

6:52 CAT | 02 Aug 2018

File photo / For illustration purposes only

The Mozambican police told Lusa on Thursday that operations were under way to locate the South African businessman kidnapped on Wednesday in Palma, northern Mozambique, adding that the work covers “all of the province.”

“We have confirmed the occurrence, and operations are already under way to locate him and they cover all of the province,” said Cláudio Langa, a spokesman to the General Command of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM).

Andre Hanekom, who is around 60 years old and has been active in the shipping industry in Palma since 2012, was abducted at around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday by a group of four persons in balaclavas and wearing military uniforms, Fernando Amarula, director of the hotel where the abduction occurred told Lusa.

“This is an area that has a lot of problems and we are there. Up to this moment, this is what can be reported,” said the Mozambican police spokesman.

The group, as described by the director of the hotel about two kilometres from the centre of the village of Palma, was travelling in a brown vehicle without registration plates, which, after the group had seized Hanekon, headed off towards the centre of the village.

“They broke into the hotel. They were following him” in a vehicle, said Fernando Amarula.

“They invaded the hotel. They were following him in a vehicle,” he explained. “I asked what was going on and they said nothing. They shot him (Hanekom) in the arm and abdomen and then took him.”

Francis Hanekom, the victim’s wife, told Lusa that she was still in a state of shock, saying Andre Hanekom “has always been a good person and a friend to everyone”.

“My husband left, saying he was going to the bank to raise money and pay taxes,” she said, but “this is not a robbery, because the money is still there”.

Witnesses said Mozambican police officers were later at the scene of the crime but were unable to give the victim’s family any details.

According to Francis Hanekom, the kidnapping took place in an atmosphere of rumours circulating in the past few days that the businessman might be the mastermind of armed attacks in the area, allegations that she says make no sense.

The victim’s wife fears that there may be enmities related to her husband’s “business success”. The family have lived in Mozambique for more than 25 years, most recently in a “privileged” area of Palma.

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Remote settlements in Cabo Delgado, 1,500 and 2,000 kilometres north of Maputo, have been struck by violent attacks by unknown people since October 2017, causing an undetermined number of deaths and displaced persons.

The groups attacking the villages have never made any claims or made their intentions known , but investigators suggest that the violence is linked to trafficking networks in heroin, ivory, rubies and wood.

The raids come at a time when investments by natural gas oil companies in the region are in progress, but the attacks have not so far targeted them directly.

Speaking to Lusa, the victim’s wife, Francis Hanekom, said she was still in a state of shock, saying Andre Hanekom “has always been a good person and a friend to everyone.”

“My husband left, saying he was going to the bank to raise money and pay taxes,” but “this is not a robbery, because the money is still there,” no one took him, he said.

According to Francis Hanekom, the kidnapping took place after rumours circulated in the past few days that the businessman could be the mastermind of armed attacks that have taken place in the area, allegations that he does not make sense.

The woman fears that there may be enmities related to the “business success” of the entrepreneur, who is in a “privileged” area of Palma.

Remote settlements in the province of Cabo Delgado, located between 1,500 and 2,000 kilometres north of Maputo, have been plundered with violence by unknown people since October 2017, causing an undetermined number of deaths and displaced persons.

Groups that have attacked the villages have never made any claims or made known their intentions, but investigators suggest that violence is linked to trafficking networks of heroin, ivory, rubies and wood.

The attacks come at a time when investments by natural gas oil companies in the region are advancing, but have not yet entered the perimeter of the projects.

Source: Lusa