Following the recent kidnapping and murder of a businessman in the district of Guijá, the commercial area of Chókwè in Gaza is facing a climate of growing insecurity, with at least five businessmen abandoning the area, the newspaper O Paísreported on Thursday 20 March .
According to the newspaper, the fear generated by the crime, coupled with the alleged involvement of members of the Mozambique Republic Police (PRM) in the case, threatens not only the confidence of the business class, but could also jeopardise foreign investment in the province.
Caetano Valente, president of the agribusiness department at the Confederation of Economic Associations (CTA), expressed the business community’s rejection of the violence, emphasising that the death of his colleague had created an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty. Valente called on the authorities to intervene urgently, demanding clarification of the crime and a thorough investigation into the alleged involvement of the police.
He also suggested the creation of a specialised force to deal exclusively with kidnappings, to ensure that this type of crime is tackled effectively. Growing insecurity threatens the business environment and could jeopardise the economic development of Gaza province.
