18 December 2008
Maputo — Mozambican President Armando Guebuza on Thursday sacked the general commander of the police force, Custodio Pinto, immediately replacing him with the man who had been his deputy, Jorge Khalau.
Khalau had earlier been commander of the riot police, and, like Pinto, he has a military background.
As is normal with dismissals and appointments, the presidential dispatch gave no reasons for the sacking of Pinto or the promotion of Khalau. However, the move came after a dramatic fortnight, in which three dangerous criminals escaped from the cells of the Maputo City Police Command in broad daylight, and three police officers were murdered in Maputo and Matola.
The latest victim was Felicano Juvane, director of public order in the Maputo command. He was gunned down on Tuesday night at his home by assassins who had obviously lain in wait for him.
At a Tuesday press conference, one reporter asked Custodio Pinto if, faced with the resurgence of violent crime, and the discontent in the ranks of the police force, he should not consider resigning.
Pinto replied that he merely obeys the orders of his superiors. He said he would only abandon his post when the commander-in-chief (Guebuza) relieved him of his duties. Which happened just 24 hours later.
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