The citizen identified as Leão de Deus Nhachengo was found lifeless on Saturday (15) in Chissibuca, in the district of Zavala, Inhambane province. Another man, Ivo Armando Nhantumbo, was murdered and the Protaginists removed his genitals, in Inharrime, the same province.

According to the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD),  Lion of God was a supporter of the politician Venâncio Mondlane, and in Zavala he acted as political coordinator. He had been reported missing on Thursday 14th. Like other young people murdered in the same province, Leão de Deus' body showed signs of murder with a firearm. The Decide Electoral Platform said that three shots were fired. 

These cases, combined with others, constitute persecution and political intolerance against supporters of the main opponent of the Frelimo regime, in the CDD's view.

"It's the third murder in the space of a week with the same characteristics... since October 2024, more than 100 people linked to the politician [including when he was linked to the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique - PODEMOS] have been murdered across the country... This constitutes persecution and political intolerance on the part of the regime," writes the non-governmental organization (NGO).

The Plataforma Eleitoral Decide wrote "Leão, is victim number 14 of the opponents killed in the post-election context in Mozambique". And in another publicationThe platform wrote: "on the same morning of March 15 that João de Deus Nhachengo was kidnapped and murdered, Ivo Armando Nhantumbo, 23, the leader of the demonstrations in Inharrime, followed the same path and had his genitals removed". The Platform counts 15 "dead politicians", of which 14 were pro-Mondlane and one Frelimo.

The CDD believes that "situations of persecution and intolerance undermine democracy and harmonious coexistence... and will not bring peace and social stability", and therefore advocates "Transitional Justice as a path to justice, reconciliation and institutional reform". (Photo: a burned-out caravan from Mondlane, in Inhambane)