On Wednesday (14), the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA) expressed the business community's concern about the wave of kidnappings that is afflicting the country, especially the capital Maputo.

"We note with deep concern that since this phenomenon emerged in 2011, there have been more than 250 cases of kidnapping and abduction, mostly among businesspeople and their relatives," said CTA President Agostinho Vuma.

In the first half of the year alone, around 15 people have been kidnapped, the biggest victims being businessmen and their families.

Speaking at the Economic Briefing 2024 conference, he lamented the fact that most of these cases had never been cleared up by the competent authorities, even after some of the masterminds of these crimes had been identified. "We still don't have a public record of the arrest and bringing to justice of any of the [principals]," he said.

He said that of the kidnapping crimes that took place in the first half of the year, some victims are still being held captive.

He noted that one of the consequences of these crimes has been the abandonment of entrepreneurs in Mozambique and the export of capital.

"[This] does not seem to be a way out, considering that most of the victims, despite their Asian origin, are Mozambicans at heart, and therefore have no interest in giving up their nationality or their investments on home soil," he said. (Source: STV)