Prominent Mozambican journalist murdered near capital

Summary:

• Mozambican journalist João Chamusse, known for critical commentary on the government, has been found dead near his home in Maputo in a suspected murder, with a machete and gardening hoe discovered nearby; press freedom groups call for a thorough investigation.

Prominent Mozambican journalist João Chamusse has been found dead outside his home in the outskirts of the capital Maputo, in a suspected murder.

Local media say he was killed by unknown assailants and that neighbours heard him screaming for help in the early hours of Thursday.

Fellow journalists say Chamusse had a wound on his head and a machete and gardening hoe were found near his body.

Chamusse, the co-owner and editor of Ponto por Ponto, a privately owned online weekly newspaper, contributed commentary critical of the government on a local TV station.

The paper says its editorial director was a “victim of murder with a knife”.

In a statement, the Mozambique chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa), a regional press freedom group, condemned the killing.

The group said Chamusse participated in the fight for press and expression freedoms in the country.

The Committee to Protect Journalists says it is “deeply disturbed” by the killing of the journalist and calls authorities in Mozambique to “thoroughly” investigate the incident.

Mozambican authorities are yet to comment on the killing.