No Conclusions So Far From Parliamentary Commission Of Inquiry
Quelimane (Mozambique), 26 Jan (AIM) – The parliamentary commission of inquiry set up to investigate the alleged involvement of an unnamed parliamentary deputy in drug trafficking via the port of Macuse, in the central Mozambican province of Zambezia, has found no evidence to suggest that Macuse is being transformed into a drugs corridor.
Speaking on Wednesday, at a press conference in the Zambezia provincial capital, Quelimane, the chairperson of the Commission, Antonio Niquice, giving the commission’s preliminary conclusions, said it had not identified the supposed deputy/trafficker, or obtained any information suggesting that Macuse was now being used to smuggle drugs.
“Although, in a separate case, the authorities did abort a drug trafficking network, not only in Macuse, but also in Mocuba district, there are still no facts to indicate that Zambezia has become a drug trafficking corridor”, said Niquice.
The Commission had worked for 15 days, in Namacurra district (where Macuse is located), in Mocuba and in Quelimane.
“During this period, we had the opportunity to work in Macuse, and also in Mocuba, where, in accordance with our terms of reference, we took all the measures necessary to clear up this case”, said Niquice.
“Our work will culminate with the presentation of the results”, he added. “Once the work has been completed, it will be up to the Commission to give the treatment it deems appropriate to the conclusions it may draw. But since we have no conclusions, so far we have nothing to share”.
He declined to go into detail about the investigation, but said “as is already public knowledge, a boat was seized in Macuse, which was part of a drug trafficking network, and in Mocuba the police seized significant amounts of methamphetamine and of cannabis”.
The Commission will submit its report to the parliament’s governing board, its Standing Commission, which will then make a public statement on the matter.
The Commission was set up because of accusations made, in a plenary session of the country’s parliament on 1 December, by Venancio Mondlane, the rapporteur of the parliamentary group of the main opposition party, Renamo.
Mondlane said that a deputy (so far unnamed) is involved in trafficking drugs through the port of Macuse.
The Commission of Inquiry consists of seven deputies – four from the ruling Frelimo Party, two from Renamo and one from the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM).
(AIM)
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