The Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD) criticizes the state's inertia in the face of the entrenchment of organized crime in Mozambique, in particular the crimes of kidnapping and abduction.

"We also denounce the apathy and silence of the institutions, with particular emphasis on the Police of the Republic of Mozambique and the National Criminal Investigation Service, or the state in general, which is not being able to deal with organized crime and kidnappings in particular," said André Mulungo.

He was talking about the kidnapping of a Portuguese businessman in downtown Maputo this morning.

The activist recalled that the promises made by the former president of Mozambique, Filipe Nyusi, and the current one, Daniel Chapo, have yet to take shape. Nyusi promised the creation of the anti-kidnapping brigade, and Chapo and a special unit to deal with kidnappings. "And nothing is happening".

"The kidnappers continue to defy the state. Right now, the state is floundering in the hands of organized crime," he said.

On the other hand, Mulungo said that the people arrested so far for kidnapping "have no relevance" and that the state must work to find the ringleaders. "This is the only way to combat kidnappings".