Mozambique: Inquiry into murder of observer to be released ‘soon’ – Government

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Mozambique: Inquiry into murder of observer to be released ‘soon’ – Government

3:57 CAT | 27 Oct 2019

Photo: Sala da Paz

The investigation report into the murder of an electoral observer in Gaza, southern Mozambique, which should have been released on Tuesday, is almost completed and will be published soon, the deputy interior minister said on Friday.

The day after the murder, Mozambique police(PRM) announced the creation of a commission of inquiry into the assassination, to present by 22 October the final report of the investigation.

Anastácio Matavel, director of the Forum of Non-Governmental Organisations of Gaza (FONGA), was shot dead by a group that chased him on 9 September, while driving his car in the city of Xai-Xai, capital of Gaza province.

The crime occurred after the activist left an observer training session in the middle of the campaign for the sixth Mozambican general elections, held on 15 October.

Days after the murder, the police commander-general suspended the commanders of the rapid intervention subunit and the special operations group in Gaza, to which the suspects belonged.

The Judicial Court of Gaza legalised the detention of two agents of the rapid intervention unit allegedly involved in the murder.

The two officers were part of a group of five men (four members of the police and one civilian), two of whom died in a road accident while trying to escape after they had shot Anastácio Matavel, according to the NGO Public Integrity Centre (CIP) and the Mozambican Police.

A fifth indicted person is on the run, but authorities have already issued an arrest warrant.

Source: Lusa