(RSF/IFEX) – Carlos Cardoso, Mozambique’s most famous journalist, was gunned down on a Maputo street on 22 November 2000. Three years later, the identity of all the persons involved in his death is still unknown, even though six people were convicted in an exemplary trial. At least one of the instigators behind the contract killing […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Carlos Cardoso, Mozambique’s most famous journalist, was gunned down on a Maputo street on 22 November 2000. Three years later, the identity of all the persons involved in his death is still unknown, even though six people were convicted in an exemplary trial. At least one of the instigators behind the contract killing is still at large. This is the main conclusion of a report issued by RSF on 21 November 2003.
A representative of the organisation travelled to Mozambique from 28 October to 6 November to find out where matters stand in the case.
During the murder trial in December 2002, the judicial authorities announced that a second investigation would be launched to determine whether the president’s eldest son, Nyimpine Chissano, had a role in Cardoso’s death. This came as a result of accusations made several times in court by two of the defendants suggesting Chissano was the actual instigator of the murder. The second investigation is still underway. The attorney-general told RSF that its findings would be made known soon.
Mozambique’s justice system has already demonstrated its commitment to the rule of law and to the fight against impunity. The trial of Cardoso’s murderers was exemplary in this respect. It was the first time in Africa that those responsible for killing a journalist were brought to trial and given heavy jail sentences. With the encouragement of the political authorities, RSF believes the justice system must now go the rest of the way and do everything possible to shed light on the uninvestigated aspects of the case. This partial impunity cannot continue, the organisation noted.
Mozambique must press on with its efforts in order to demonstrate that impunity is not inevitable in Africa. RSF believes this will show the murderers of journalists who are still at large in Angola, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and elsewhere that they too will one day have to answer for their crimes.
The complete report, “Mozambique: Three years after Carlos Cardoso’s murder, the identity of all those involved is still unknown”, is available on RSF’s website in English, French and Portuguese: http://www.rsf.org.
