Portuguese businessman José Pedro da Silva, 41, was shot dead on Friday (02) in the city of Matola, Maputo province. According to sources, the incident happened after the victim had gone to a banking establishment, and was suspected to have been a robbery attempt.

The victim was an executive director of Sotubos, a building materials company, and the son of the former president of Portuguese club SC Braga, Alberto Silva, who had lived in Mozambique since the 1990s.

According to the Police of the Republic of Mozambique (PRM), the crime took place when two vehicles intercepted the car in which José Pedro was traveling accompanied by the driver and a personal security guard. The attackers fired several bursts of gunfire, one of which hit the businessman in the chest. Although he was immediately taken to hospital, he didn't survive his injuries.

"The victim heard a strange sound through the glass and shouted that he was wounded. The shot hit him in the chest," explained Delfina Manhiça, spokesperson for the PRM in Maputo province, adding that investigations are underway to clarify the details of the murder and identify those responsible.

(Photo DR)