Mozambique

December 8, 2006

Dominic Mahlangu, Sunday Times
Carlos Litulo, freelance
HARASSED

Police in the southeastern village of Xicumbane detained investigative reporter Mahlangu and freelance photographer Litulo for 14 hours without charge and confiscated their notebooks, cell phones, and a camera, according to CPJ interviews and news reports. A police official ordered the arrests after Mahlangu questioned him about the activities of the notorious Mozambican criminal Annanias Mathe, the journalist told CPJ. Xicumbane is home to Mathe, who is jailed in South Africa on more than 50 charges that include murder and rape, according to international news reports.

CPJ Update July 14, 2006 News from the Committee to Protect Journalists

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MAY 3, 2006
Posted: May 16, 2006

Sebastiao Canjera, Mabarwe
Joao Mascarenhas, Mabarwe
Patreque Francisco, Mabarwe
IMPRISONED

A prosecutor in the western district of Manica ordered three journalists from the community newspaper Mabarwe detained without charge, according to the local chapter of the Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) and local news reports. According to local reports, editor Canjera, news editor Mascarenhas, and reporter Francisco were detained after a local businessman accused their paper of defaming him. They were held until May 10, when they were released without charge.

New York, May 11, 2006—A local prosecutor in Mozambique has taken a preliminary step toward indicting a son of former President Joaquim Chissano in the 2000 murder of investigative journalist Carlos Cardoso, Mozambique’s official news agency, AIM, reported today.

The prosecutor filed what is known as a charge sheet with the Maputo City Court about two weeks ago, AIM reported today. A judge will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed against Nyimpine Chissano, the news agency said. AIM reported that the charge sheet accuses the younger Chissano of being involved in plotting the murder.

The Case of Carlos Cardoso

Below is an update of court proceedings, currently under way in Mozambique, in the murder case of journalist Carlos Cardoso, who was killed on November 22, 2000. The proceedings are updated periodically as events occur.

New York, January 20, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomed a conviction today by a Mozambican court in the murder of Carlos Cardoso but called on authorities to pursue those behind the killing of Mozambique's leading investigative reporter.

A court in the capital, Maputo, convicted Anibal dos Santos Jr. for the second time of recruiting Cardoso's killers. Dos Santos, better known as Anibalzinho, was sentenced to almost 30 years in prison. The conviction ended a two-month retrial. Anibalzinho, who escaped twice from custody, was convicted in absentia in 2003 of involvement in the 2000 murder. Anibalzinho, who has Portuguese citizenship, successfully appealed to the Supreme Court in December 2004 for a retrial.