Maputo, 11 Jun – The African Catholic bishops call for an urgent investigation into the murder of Osório Citora Afonso, Bishop of the Diocese of Quelimane, in the central Mozambican province of Zambézia.
Bishop Afonso, who was also Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Beira, in the central province of Sofala, was shot dead in the early hours of Saturday at the Episcopal Palace of Quelimane, his official residence.
According to the country’s National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC), the Bishop was murdered with an AKM-type firearm. A bullet was found in the victim’s chest, right in the heart.
In a statement, issued by the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, the African bishops also called for reinforced security for religious leaders and places of worship.
“We demanded a swift and transparent investigation and the perpetrators must be identified, prosecuted and brought to justice without delay. The people of Mozambique, the Catholic Church and the international community deserve to know the truth”, reads the document.
The bishops also urged Mozambican authorities to strengthen protection for religious leaders and churches. “The State has the solemn responsibility to guarantee freedom of worship in safety”, the document says.
The American States Embassy in Mozambique has offered assistance to Mozambican investigators working on the case, stressing the importance of a comprehensive and transparent investigation focused on accountability.
The European Union also said that the “death of bishop Osório is a deep loss for the Catholic community and for Mozambican society. The authorities must ensure those responsible are identified and brought to justice.”
(AIM)
FG/ZT/Am/
