Maputo — Carlos Tembe, Mayor of the southern Mozambican city of Matola, died in Maputo central hospital on Thursday morning.

According to the governor of Maputo province, Telmina Pereira, Tembe had fallen suddenly ill on Wednesday night. He was taken immediately to hospital, but died a few hours later.

Pereira said the initial medical diagnosis was that hepatitis seemed to be the main cause of death.

She added that the provincial and municipal governments had been taken by surprise at Tembe's sudden passing.

Tembe was elected mayor of Matola in the country's first municipal elections in 1998, and was re-elected in 2003.