Police Arrest Ten Over Killing of Mozambican Motorcyclists

September 26, 2023

Mozammbique Police officers stand guard during the start of the curfew in Maputo on February 6, 2021. - About two million Mozambicans in the epicenter of the country's coronavirus breakout will from February 5, 2021 adhere to a curfew for the first time since the civil war ended in 1992, President Filipe Nyusi announced Thursday. The southern African nation's decision to impose a 9:00 pm to 4:00 am curfew in the Great Maputo area -- which includes the cities of Maputo, Matola, Marracuene and Boane -- comes as the national health system buckles under rising infections. (Photo by Alfredo Zuniga / AFP)

The Police in Mozambique have arrested 10 suspects in the robbery and murder of motorcycle taxi drivers in Tete province, central Mozambique.

The suspects were detained between Tuesday and Wednesday, in possession of seven motorbikes. Of the 10 suspects, three “carried out the robberies and the remaining seven were, (among others), middlemen in the sale of the motorcycles”, said Feliciano da Câmara, spokesman for the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM).

“They threatened the victims and stole their motorbikes, in some cases where the assault ended in death,” said the spokesperson.

He explained that some of the men arrested had murdered two persons in the Matundo and Chingodzi neighbourhoods.

Motorbikes in Mozambique (News Central TV)

The police reaction is coming after the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) announced, on Wednesday, the demise of the former president of the party’s Youth League in the Matundo neighbourhood, in Tete, following a robbery incident on Saturday.

According to RENAMO, a group of unidentified persons stole the motorbike and money from Salifo Selemane, whose body was found with signs of assault.

Nuno Zacarias, Renamo spokesperson in Tete said there is a likelihood that the murder was linked to political causes, but left it to the police to clarify the case.