Nampula municipal councillor, son of opposition leader, detained after licensing container – Lusa report

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Nampula municipal councillor, son of opposition leader, detained after licensing container – Lusa report

3:35 CAT | 23 Sep 2022

File photo: DW

Authorities in Nampula, northern Mozambique, have detained a municipal councillor and son of the leader of Mozambique’s main opposition party, on suspicion of irregularities in the licensing of a container for operation as a store.

At issue is authorization for a commercial space of 13 square metres on a street in Nampula city. Two spaces were eventually set up, with the Public Prosecutor’s Office alleging that Osvaldo Ossufo Momade violated the law to give preference to a license applicant.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office arrest is based on indications of “administrative acts without competence, misleading the mayor and obstructing justice”, a statement from the Nampula Provincial Anti-Corruption Office [GPCC] reads.

The statement indicates that the action came as a result of a tip-off from another person interested in the licence.

At stake are crimes of abuse of office or function, fraud and false testimony or declaration, it adds.

The detainee, arrested on Thursday, is Osvaldo Ossufo Momade, a councillor for Economic Promotion, Markets and Fairs Management in the municipality of Nampula. He is the son of Ossufo Momade, president of the Mozambican National Resistance (Renamo), the country’s main opposition party.

Lusa tried to obtain further clarification from the Municipality and Renamo, but without success.

Nampula is one of the few municipalities in the country (which total 53) governed by the opposition. Renamo governs in eight municipalities and the Democratic Movement of Mozambique (MDM), the third-largest party in parliament, in one. The rest are run by the Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo), the country’s ruling party.

Source: Lusa