The population of one of the communities in the Manhiça district, in Maputo, today denounced the occurrence of persecution, kidnappings and killings since Sunday (26).

They accuse a leader of the Manhiça municipality of mobilizing "his men" to go after some people. A meeting was held in the town on Wednesday of last week, where the rumors of persecution were discussed. A letter reporting the persecution was submitted to the police station on Friday. The population warned in the letter that they would take action.

According to an anonymous source interviewed by the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD), a taxi driver was kidnapped on Sunday. The victim was found in Xai-xai, Gaza province. On Wednesday, a citizen identified as Gerson was kidnapped. The information reached them at around 11.18am. It was then that they decided to block the road.

The source said that they sought clarification from the police. They didn't get any information, but they did receive death threats. He accused the Rapid Intervention Unit of making death/decapitation gestures.

While they were at the police station, there were riots. Some people were shot and one woman was admitted to Vila da Manhiça Hospital.

According to the source, the police suggested that they go and look for Gerson in the woods. "We suspect that, after all, they already had information that our man was in the bush," he said, noting that the police refused to support the search.

The police fired again in an area where traffic was restricted and the population was crowded. Dissatisfied with the police action, the population decided to set fire to two vehicles.

A representative of the neighborhood said that the harassment is not new. It's been going on since efforts were made to remove the neighborhood secretary in 2024. He put forward someone he trusted, but the population rejected him.

The neighborhood secretary allegedly ordered the arrest of two people who rejected his suggestion. They were taken to the Civil Prison, according to a source interviewed by CCD.