The Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD) seeks clarification as it tries to prevent the destruction of possible evidence regarding the murder of Elvino Dias and Paulo Guambe in October 2024.

This week, the civil society organization sent its second request to the Attorney General's Office for investigation and accountability of the alleged perpetrators of the crime.


The CDD names Roque Xavier, head of the Penitentiary Operations Department (DOP) of the Maputo Civil Prison, and two inmates, Julião Ruben Munguambe and Edson Cassiano Lacerda Sílica, as possible perpetrators of the crime.


The civil society organization claims that Xavier ordered the "exit" of the two prisoners on October 16, 2024, without escort or formal authorization, supposedly to carry out agricultural work in Moamba. They would have spent three days outside of prison, "in clear violation of article 90 of Law no. 26/2019, of December 27, which prohibits unsupervised overnight stays outside prison establishments."

And it was in the early hours of October 19th that Elvino Dias, lawyer and advisor to former presidential candidate Venâncio Mondlane, and Paulo Guambe, candidate of the Povo Optimista para o Desenvolvimento de Moçambique (PODEMOS) party in the elections on October 9th last year.


On October 21, 2024, the CDD says, the head of the DOP ordered the elimination of entry and exit records for these prisoners.


The civil society organization stated that more evidence had already been presented to the PGR in April and that there is evidence that points to the inmates as the perpetrators of the double homicide.


The social organization believes that the PGR's silence on the case reveals a tendency to create conditions for the disappearance of evidence.


the CDD demands urgent measures from the PGR, to prevent the destruction of evidence inside the prison, including the transfer of those identified as responsible for the crime and threats to anyone who is useful in the investigative process in the search for material truth", says the text.


Given the seriousness of the facts, the CDD's complaint demands the opening of a rigorous and independent investigation to determine the responsibilities of Roque Xavier and the two detainees and, if confirmed, their disciplinary and criminal liability. The CDD calls for profound reforms in the prison system, with measures to curb abuse of power and corruption. Furthermore, the CDD requests the Attorney General's Office (PGR) to grant protection to witnesses who can contribute to clarifying the case, guaranteeing their safety and integrity, reports the Human Rights Bulletin