Portuguese businessman kidnapped in Maputo

Maputo, 30 Oct (AIM) – The Mozambican police (PRM) has confirmed that a Portuguese businessman was kidnapped on Tuesday in the heart of Maputo.

The victim is Ernesto Amaral Fonseca, a partner in Tecno Control Ltd, a company that works in the computer and electricity area

The police spokesperson in Maputo city, Leonel Muchina, said the kidnapping occurred in broad daylight shortly after midday, on Arrmando Tivane Avenue in the up-market neighbourhood of Polana.

A surveillance camera caught the kidnapping on film. It showed a gang of four individuals who were driving a Toyota SUV. They jumped out of their vehicle, pointing guns at the businessman. They dragged him into the SUV, and then drove away at high speed.

The gunmen fired three shots into the air to drive away nearby citizen, including an agent of a private security company, who tried, without success to rescue the victim.

Muchina said the police are in possession of a mobile phone that the victim dropped.

“All of our agents are in pursuit of the criminals, so that we can rescue their victim”, he added.

During the 45 day campaign ahead of the general elections held on 9 October, no kidnappings at all were reported in Maputo. Since the elections there have been two kidnappings. The first was abortive, since the police managed to chase the kidnappers forcing them to release their captive.

On Tuesday, Interior Minister Pascoal Ronda told a press conference that the government is concerned at the resurgence of kidnappings. But he guaranteed that the kidnappers will be caught and brought to justice.

Over the last 12 years, about 150 businessmen have been kidnapped, and around 100 have left Mozambique out of fear of being abducted, according to the Confederation of Business Associations (CTA).
(AIM)
Pf/ (300)