Unknown assailants kidnapped businessman Muhammad Mayet, owner of Shelyns stationery store, this morning on Avenida Ho Chi Min in Maputo city, as he was on his way to work.

Witnesses heard by TV Sucesso confirmed that the kidnapping took place at around 7am, in an area that is always patrolled and monitored by the police.

"[The victim] was a business owner of a stationery store that supplies school materials. [He appeared to be] over 50 years old," said the witness.

She said that the kidnappers were transported in a car, were armed and even fired shots. During the raid, an employee was shot.

"[This employee] is in serious condition and is in hospital at the moment," he said, noting that he was "the driver of the person who was kidnapped".

Another witness said that the criminals were transported in two white vehicles from which three of them got out carrying AKM-type weapons.

"Three people came down. They had an AKM with a police belt," he said, pointing out that the victim's driver tried to help his boss and at that moment one of the thugs fired two shots.

"With that sound of gunfire, the people who were there fled. There were no police on that street. I saw that the one who was driving also had a pistol. There were more people in the car"

The police arrived at the scene moments after the crime to gather information about the situation.

"The police didn't arrive straight away, they arrived later," he said.

An official of the kidnapped citizen expressed his displeasure at the kidnappings in the country and switched to divestment situations.

"Kidnappings have been going on for 12 years. It's nothing new. It's a habit. It's to run the merchants out of business here. And with that, there will be less investment in the country, more unemployment and more robberies," he warned.

The source criticized the fact that the government knew about the situation and "did nothing". "The police are here with AKMs and have never done anything. It's not fair."