The district delegate of the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (Podemos), in Zavala, Inhambane province, and his wife were kidnapped yesterday, Sunday.

The party, through its social media channels, said that the police in the district did not know the whereabouts of Alberto Chale Lima Munjovo and Carla Teresa Serafina Nhavoto.

This information was allegedly told to two members of the party's political committee who sought clarification from the police command.

Recent information indicates that the delegate is back with his family. Alberto and Carla were found in different places, in the woods. The deputy suffered beatings.

Alberto and Teresa were allegedly kidnapped by hooded and armed individuals, according to the children who live with the couple, quoted by the Party.

Other sources say that the perpetrators were transported in two 4×4 vehicles. The couple were taken to a bush, where they were separated. The delgado was beaten and interrogated about his relationship with presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane.

"In addition to the beatings, he was forced to record video statements saying that he would no longer be coordinator of PODEMOS and that he would never speak of Venâncio Mondlane again. The recordings were repeated several times because the kidnappers demanded that they be perfect," wrote one of the sources.