Father Fernão Magalhães, of the Archdiocese of Nampula, who was head of the Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM) list and candidate for governor of Nampula in the October 9 elections, died of an unknown cause on Saturday (09).

According to a publication on the local portal IkweliThe cleric, who lived alone in the Marien Nguabi communal unit in the mythical Namutequeliua neighborhood, did not complain of any illness. "He went to bed yesterday and didn't wake up. We believe he lost his life in the early hours of the morning," says the same publication, quoting an MDM source.

The Catholic Church in Nampula has confirmed what happened. According to Father Pinho dos Santos, director of the Secretariat for Pastoral Coordination in Nampula (SECAPAN), the church took drastic notice and says it doesn't know the real reason for his physical disappearance.

"We also understand that he was found dead in his room, and we don't have any concrete information about what happened to him, I can't say if he was ill or not, so we're waiting for SERNIC's work, and then we'll know what to do."

(Photo DR)